HC Deb 14 January 1991 vol 183 cc443-4W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of people living in bed and breakfast accommodation who were the responsibility of the London borough of Wandsworth on 14 December.

Mr. Yeo

Local authorities have a statutory duty to secure accommodation for households who have been found to be homeless, or threatened with homelessness, under part III of the Housing Act 1985. Information is reported quarterly to the Department. The latest available figures for the number of homeless households in bed and breakfast accommodation are for the end of September 1990. The reported figures, including those for the London borough of Wandsworth, appear in table 7 of "Households found accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the third quarter 1990. Supplementary Tables". A copy is in the Library.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will issue advice to local housing authorities on the way in which the provisions of part XII of the Housing Act 1985 should be exercised having regard to homelessness outside London;

(2) if he will make it his policy not to exercise his powers under sections 322 to 326, inclusive, of the Public Health Act 1936 to enforce the provisions of part XII of the Housing Act 1985 where a local authority, in response to applications for short-term night shelter by charities and churches, was choosing not to exercise these powers;

(3) if he will make it his policy not to exercise his powers under sections 322 to 326, inclusive, of the Public Health Act 1936 to enforce the provisions of part XII of the Housing Act 1985 where a local authority, in response to applications for short-term night shelters by charities and churches, is sensitively choosing not to exercise these powers.

Mr. Yeo

The Department's advice to local authorities on the use of their powers under part XII of the Housing Act 1985 is contained in DOE circular 12/86. My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to revise that advice or to exercise his powers under sections 322 to 326 of the Public Health Act 1936.