§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what were the levels of recorded homelessness over the last 10 years(a) in Hampshire, (b) in Winchester City Council area and (c) nationally. [24550]
§ Mr. Raynsford[holding answer 22 January 1998]: The available data on the numbers of households in the years since 1987 that were in priority need, and for which local authorities in England accepted responsibility to provide accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985, are set out in the table.
Year Winchester Hampshire England 1987 169 not available 98,890 1988 111 not available 102,500 1989 161 2,266 110,380 1990 159 2,639 128,090 1991 142 3,225 137,250 1992 185 3,216 138,740 1993 131 2,874 127,630 1994 118 2,787 118.490 1995 125 2,904 117,490 1996 154 3,021 113,560 1 data for 3 quarters only. There was a change in recording practice from the second quarter of 1991 which relates to the recording of intentionally homeless households which have been excluded from acceptance figures since then. Estimated figures for England on this revised basis have been produced for the period prior to the change and the answer uses these adjusted figures. Similar estimates have not been made at county or local authority so the figures for Winchester and Hampshire for the years up to 1991 may include some acceptances of intentionally homeless households.