§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were living in temporary accommodation in England and Wales on the most recent date for which figures are available; what proportion of these were women; and what proportion were accommodated in women's refuges.
§ Sir George YoungThe latest available information shows that 56,900 households were in temporary accommodation on 30 September 1993, some 8,600—13 per cent.—fewer than a year earlier. These figures cover those households which are awaiting permanent rehousing after having been accepted by local authorities as homeless, and those awaiting the outcome of inquiries into an application, under the provisions of the 1985 Housing Act. Some 870 of these households were in women's refuges.
Local authorities do not report the composition of households in temporary accommodation to my Department and so the number who are women is not held centrally.
For information about Wales I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.