Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated number of homeless persons in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe information requested is not available prior to April 1989 when the Northern Ireland Housing Executive was given responsibility for dealing with the accommodation needs of all homeless people under the Housing (NI) Order 1988.
I am advised by the chairman of the Housing Executive that the number of applicants accepted as being either homeless or threatened with homelessness since 1 April 1989 is as follows:
Number 1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 5,001 1 April 1990 to 30 September 1990 3,345