§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the statutory obligations to provide temporary or permanent accommodation to immigrants holding United Kingdom passports who are admitted to the United Kingdom from any other country.
§ Mr. ArmstrongSocial services authorities have a duty under Section 21(1)(b) of the National Assistance Act 1948 to provide temporary accommodation for those who are in urgent need of it, in circumstances which could not reasonably have been foreseen, or in such circumstances as the authority may determine in any particular case. The duty itself is not limited to any particular group or section of the comunity. The joint circular on homelessness issued in February last year recommended that housing authorities should accept the prime responsibility for homeless people and their accommodation; and that local authorities should use their powers in the way most appropriate to individual cases.