§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the comparative public sector costs of housing homeless families by(a) the provision of newly built dwellings, (b) the provision of dwellings acquired from the private sector and improved for letting and (c) the provision of bed-and-breakfast accommodation.
§ Mrs. Roe[holding answer 6 November 1987]: The estimate capital costs per household of direct provision by local authorities in 1985–86 were as follows:
Greater London Rest of England £ £ i. New build 55,700 32,600 ii. Acquisition and renovation 45,900 27,600 Bed and breakfast costs then averaged £30 and £15 respectively per household day.
But there are other ways of accommodating the homeless which are less expensive in public resources. Under the Government's mixed funding scheme to provide interim accommodation for homeless families through housing associations, for example, public sector costs would amount to no more than 50 per cent. and 30 per cent. respectively of the acquisition and renovation costs shown above.