HC Deb 17 December 1998 vol 322 cc634-5W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many places have been made available by his Department as emergency shelters for the homeless over the Christmas period in each of the last five years for which figures are available showing the locations of those places. [64309]

Mr. Raynsford

Through the Winter Shelter Programme additional bedspaces are provided for rough sleepers each year to ensure that no one needs to sleep rough on the streets during the winter months. The majority of the additional bedspaces are provided in London where rough sleeping is most acute. Information on the number of bedspaces is available for the following years1998–99: 547 bedspaces and 78 severe weather beds in London, Bristol, Brighton and Cambridge. 1997–98: 552 bedspaces and 59 severe weather beds in London, Bristol and Cambridge. 1996–97: 495 bedspaces and 100 severe weather beds in London and Bristol. 1995–96: 315 bedspaces in London. 1994–95: 330 bedspaces and 200 severe weather beds in London.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many places have been planned by his Department as emergency shelters for the homeless over the forthcoming Christmas period and in what locations. [64310]

Mr. Raynsford

Through the Winter Shelter Programme the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions will be funding 547 additional

Agency Shelter Area Bedspaces
London
English Churches Housing Group Ltd. Bedford Place Camden 60
Riverpoint Talgarth Road West London 24
Single Homeless Project QE Nurses Home Tower Hamlets 50
Providence Row Housing Association Fitzgerald Lodge Tower Hamlets 48
Crisis Southwark Street Southwark 40
London City YMCA Errol Street Islington 15
St. Mungo Community Housing Association Ltd. Southampton Row Camden 45
Salvation Army Tudor Street City 30
Look Ahead Housing and Care Ltd. Marsham Street Victoria 60
Look Ahead Housing and Care Ltd. St. Pancras Way S. Camden 42
Centrepoint St. George's Court S. Camden 60
Outside London
English Churches Housing Group Ltd. City Library Cambridge 25
Cold Weather Group/English Churches Housing Group Ltd. Stokes Croft Bristol 29
Brighton Housing Trust Lennox Street Brighton 19

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total expenditure for the provision of emergency Christmas shelters for the homeless over the past five years; and what estimate he has made of the resources to be made available for the purpose during Christmas. [64311]

Mr. Raynsford

The Government have made available £4 million this year for the Winter Shelter Programme. This will provide 547 additional bedspaces for rough sleepers and 78 severe weather beds in London, Bristol, Brighton and Cambridge. I will write with the additional information requested.