§ Mr. CatonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which health authorities in England have dedicated resources for initiatives relating to the problem of rough sleeping; how much they spent in the last year for which figures are available; and on what projects. [52428]
§ Mr. BoatengThe information requested is not available centrally.
However, since 1994–95, funding for five of the six multi-disciplinary community psychiatric outreach teams which form one strand of the Government's Homeless Mentally Ill Initiative (HMII) has been included in the Thames health authorities' regional allocations. In 1994–95, this funding amounted to some £1.76 million. Additionally, in 1998–99, the East London and City Health Authority is allocating £10,000 towards the costs of the HART HMII outreach team. City and Hackney Community Services NHS Trust also contributes some £5,000 towards HART' s costs.
The Department has approved non cash-limited funding of £558,000 in 1998–99 for twenty eight primary care projects for homeless people. These projects are designed to help meet the health care needs of the entire range of homeless people, including rough sleepers.