§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Rough Sleepers Initiative in tackling the problem of homelessness in Greater London; and what plans he has further to improve the initiative. [45298]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Rough Sleepers Initiative which began in 1990 has been successful in reducing the numbers of rough sleepers in main areas of central London. Single night head counts of people sleeping rough in central London undertaken by voluntary organisations are down, from estimates of more than 1,000 before the Initiative, to less than 300 on any one night in the central London areas surveyed since 1992. Successive phases of the Initiative have been evaluated by independent researchers and their findings taken into account in developing action to tackle rough sleeping. However more needs to be done if we are to meet our objective of reducing the level of rough sleeping to as near zero as possible.
The third phase of the RSI is due to end in March 1999. As yet, no decisions have been taken on what should follow, although an independent evaluation is under way. In addition, the Social Exclusion Unit have been considering the issue of rough sleeping and have reported to the Prime Minister. I expect their findings to be made public within the next few weeks.