§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has of the number of people currently regularly sleeping rough in central London; what was the equivalent figure in previous estimates; and if he will make a statement. [41130]
§ Mr. ClappisonIndependent street counts of people sleeping rough are undertaken twice yearly in central London, co-ordinated by Homeless Network, the umbrella organisation for voluntary sector agencies helping street homeless people in the capital. The information requested is:
403W
Number of people sleeping rough in central London Percentage sleeping rough for more than one year May 1995 270 66 November 1994 288 76 May 1994 268 72 November 1993 287 77 June 1993 348 74 It is, however, likely that people sleeping out for a period of time will occasionally make use of hostel, nightshelter or winter shelter accomodation.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the rough sleepers initiative contained in the housing White Paper will be funded from local authority housing budgets. [41051]
§ Mr. ClappisonDecisions on future public expenditure commitments cannot be made before the Budget statement by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 28 November 1995.