§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the recent opening of two reception centres in Willesden and Sittingbourne for single homeless persons.
§ Mr. DeanThe Willesden reception centre, with 80 beds, opened on 10th October 1973. This is the first of several smaller modern centres which the Supplementary58W Benefits Commission intends to open in London to replace, in due course, the over-large and unsuitable centre at Camberwell. Another new centre will be opened at Notting Hill next year and present plans include provision for two more.
The Sittingbourne reception and re-establishment centre opened on 18th October 1973. It has 60 beds for homeless and rootless single men and 30 places for the re-establishment of local unemployed men, and replaces the centre at Teston which had 56 beds and no facilities for re-establishment work.
§ Mr. Stallardasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the financial allocation made by his Department to voluntary organisations providing services for single homeless persons was allocated to central administrative costs, residential care and support, and research and information, respectively.
§ Mr. DeanI regret that it is not possible to break down grants to voluntary organisations providing services for single homeless persons in this way.
§ Mr. Stallardasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will make arrangements to provide accommodation this winter for single homeless persons;
(2) if he will now take steps to increase the number of beds available for single homeless persons this winter.
§ Mr. DeanSubstantial additions to the beds or accommodation available for homeless single people have been provided by the Supplementary Benefits Commission and various voluntary bodies since last winter, and the amount of grants from statutory funds made to voluntary bodies which provide accommodation for homeless single people has increased greatly this year.
§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what financial assistance has been given by way of grants to voluntary organisations providing services for single homeless persons in 1972–73; and what assistance is planned for 1973–74.
59W
§ Mr. DeanGrants to voluntary organisations providing services for homeless single people totalled over £160,000 in 1972–73. The total for 1973–74 is expected to be at least double that amount.
§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will issue to local authorities a directive under the Local Government Act 1972 regarding their duties towards homeless persons.
§ Sir K. JosephIt is my intention to do so, and I am consulting the local authority associations about the necessary circular.
§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to publish his Department's report on lodging-house and hostel accommodation for single people, based on the October 1972 survey.
§ Mr. DeanThe Office of Population Censuses and Surveys is analysing the information obtained from this survey and a report is expected to be published towards the end of next year.