§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many times since 1948 the Department has required local authorities to provide temporary accommodation for the homeless under Section 25 of the National Assistance Act, 1948; and what were the circumstances in each case.
§ Mr. DeanThe power has been used only once—by the National Assistance Board in 1950. This was at the invitation of a local authority where a couple had been evicted from furnished accommodation. The authority said that it would welcome the issue of a direction as it wished to test the power on appeal, but in the event it did not appeal.