§ Mrs. CaltonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues to ensure that information on the placement of families in352W temporary accommodation is shared among statutory agencies across local authority boundaries, with particular reference to (a) housing departments, (b) education authorities, (c) social services, (d) primary care trusts and (e) the National Asylum Support Service in order to ensure that such families can gain access to the services to which they are entitled. [88545]
§ Mrs. RocheThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is jointly funding the Association of Local Government and the Greater London Authority to develop a notification project which will improve systems for London boroughs to make notifications to housing, health, social services and education authorities of families with children placed into and leaving temporary accommodation.
The Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities, issued in July 2002, was published jointly by my right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and the Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn). The code includes general guidance about joint working between housing authorities, social services and health authorities, and specific guidance on the importance of local authorities ensuring that all babies and young children placed in temporary accommodation have the opportunity to receive health and environmental checks from health visitors and other primary health care professionals.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also hosts an ad hoc Ministerial Committee on Homelessness, chaired by myself to ensure dialogue between departments, which includes Ministers with portfolios covering housing, education, social services, health and asylum issues.