§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider setting up an interdepartmental agency to assess the extent of homelessness and possible solutions to homelessness in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Michael Spicer[holding answer 22 October 1990]: No. The Government's review of the homelessness legislation published last November concluded that local authorities were the appropriate agencies for helping homeless people and assessing their needs, as provided for in the Housing Act 1985.