§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further proposals he has to deal with the problem of street homelessness; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Baldry[holding answer 13 November 1992]: Under the Government's rough sleepers initiative, we have made £96 million available over three years to provide 850 new places in hostels for people sleeping rough in central London, and to provide a total of 2,900 places in more permanent accommodation for people in hostels to move on to.
My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 12 November that further resources of £86 million would be made available over the next three years to build on the success of the rough sleepers initiative in assisting people who sleep rough in central London. My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning will announce details shortly.
Nationally, my Department makes grants under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 to support the national homelessness advice service and some 150 projects run by voluntary organisations throughout the country that provide direct, practical help to homeless people. Resources in 1993–94 will be increased to £6.5 million from £6.1 million this year.