Homelessness (Hansard, 30 November 1994)

§ Mr. Gapes
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homeless families there are(a) nationally, (b) in Greater London and (c) in Redbridge; how many there were in 1979; and what plans he has to reduce the numbers.

§ Mr. Curry
During the 12 months ending June this year 128,062 households were accepted as statutorily homeless by local authorities in England, 30,920 by the London boroughs and 586 by the London borough of Redbridge. The equivalent figures for 1979 were 55,530, 16,400 and 311. The number of acceptances over the previous 12 months has now fallen for nine successive quarters.

§ Mr. Hendry
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the most recent homelessness figures.

§ Mr. Curry
The most recent figures show that for nine quarters in succession English local authorities have accepted fewer households as statutorily homeless than in the same period 12 months previously. Moreover, the number of households in temporary accommodation fell 13 per cent. and the number in bed-and-breakfast hotels went down 27 per cent., compared with 12 months earlier. I find these figures encouraging.

§ Mr. Khabra
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will make a statement about the Government's plans in respect of homelessness legislation.

§ Mr. Robert B. Jones
As my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Housing, Inner Cities and Construction told the House on 18 July 1994,Official Report, columns 21–23, we intend to introduce legislation when parliamentary time permits.