§ Mr. Hurdasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which local authorities in Oxfordshire have now assumed responsibility for homelessness;
(2) which local authorities in Oxfordshire that have taken responsibility for homelessness make provision for the priority groups designated in the Department of Environment Circular 18/74:
670Wassisted area with spouse and children becomes, for the first time, an owner-occupier.
Details of the increased grants and allowances are as follows:
(3) how many units of temporary accommodation for homeless people are available in each district council area in Oxfordshire;
(4) how many homeless families in Oxfordshire are currently accommodated in bed and breakfast hotels.
§ Mr. Luardasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which district authorities in Oxfordshire have accepted responsibility for relieving homelessness; how many units of accommodation have they provided for this purpose; and whether they have accepted the designation of priority groups laid down in Circular 18/74 issued by his Department.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThe information I have is that all the district councils in Oxfordshire have accepted responsibility for accommodating homeless people and all provide for the "priority groups" as set out in the joint homelessness circular. The number of units of accommodation used temporarily by the district councils in the county, and the number of families 671W in bed and breakfast accommodation in their area, varies according to circumstances and need, and the availability of permanent housing. Accommodation provided temporarily is by no means the sole measure of the overall help that the district councils give to homeless people.
I understand that on 5th November there were 15 families in bed and breakfast accommodation, and that the total authorities regarded the following numbers of units as available for use temporarily by homeless people:
Oxford City 128 Cherwell 29 West Oxfordshire 18 South Oxfordshire 15 Vale of White Horse 3