§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people were sleeping rough in each year from 1998. [69423]
§ Mr. McNultyOn 3 December 2001, the Prime Minister announced that the Rough Sleepers Unit had met its target to reduce rough sleeping by at least two thirds by 2002. The latest figures on the number of people sleeping rough since June 1998 are as follows:
England Reduction (per cent.) June 1998 1,851 — June 1999 1,633 11.8 June 2000 1,180 36.3 June 2001 703 62.0 November 2001 532 71.3 The new Homelessness Directorate within my Department brings together the Rough Sleepers Unit, the Bed and Breakfast Unit and a new team to advise local authorities on the development of strategies to tackle homelessness. The Directorate will continue to work on sustaining the two-thirds reduction in rough sleeping.