§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will undertake a survey of the number of homeless men and homeless women.
§ Mr. MeacherMy hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction is now responsible for collecting statistics on homelessness provided by local authorities and hopes to publish the first results shortly. The Social Survey Division of the Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys recently published a report of a national survey of hostels and lodgings for homeless single people, which512W was carred out on behalf of my Department, and I have placed copies in the Library.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the longest period for which anyone has been resident in a SBC reception centre.
§ Mr. MeacherI regret that this information is not available. Of thise still resident one man of 78 years has been in the centre for 15 years; he has refused to accept Part III accommodation.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the proportion of those once resident in a reception centre who return after attempting to find their own accommodation.
§ Mr. MeacherI regret this information is not available.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average length of stay in a reception centre.
§ Mr. MeacherOn 24th February 1976, of the 1,530 persons accommodated in the 21 reception centres directly administered by the Supplementary Benefits Commission, 387 had been resident for less than one week; 633 resident for one week or more but less than 13 weeks; 381 resident for 13 weeks or more but less than 52 weeks and 129 for 52 weeks or more.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will outline the plans for a number of smaller reception centres to replace the Camber-well centre; when they will become operational; and how many places each one will provide.
§ Mr. MeacherSince December 1971 new centres for men have been opened in Battersea with 76 beds; in Soho with 80 beds; in Clapham with 100 beds; in Willesden with 80 beds, and in Notting Hill with 120 beds. A new centre in Lewisham will open in 1977–78 with 150 beds. It is also planned to use the Southwark Reception Centre now used for women, as a centre for men. Further proposals must depend on how the situation develops but the Property Services Agency, on behalf of the Supplementary Benefits Commission, is continuing to 513W seek other sites or premises in London suitable for use as reception centres.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will list the 23 reception centres provided by the SBC and indicate the capacity of each and its occupancy at the latest available date.
§ Mr. MeacherThe information as at 24th February 1976 was as follows:
DIRECTLY ADMINISTERED RECEPTION CENTRES Provincial Reception Centres Number of Beds Number accommodated on 24th February 1976 Alvaston, Derby 104 57 Fazakerley, Liverpool 61 26 Crown Quay Lodge, Sittingbourne 76 49 Glasgow 30 26 Leeds 96 47 Newbury, Berkshire 68 64 Plawsworth, Co. Durham 112 105 Southampton 80 69 South Wales 64 56 Walkden, Manchester 84 51 West Midlands, Stourbridge 140 107 Winterbourne, Bristol 112 78 Woodhouse, Sheffield 96 69 London Reception Centres Camberwell 938 653 Battersea 76 49 Cedars Lodge, Clapham 100 67 West End, Soho 80 51 Pound Lodge, Willesden 80 80 Southwark* 55 2† Camden* 35 30 Notting Hill 120 63 Reception Centres Administered by Local Authorities Brighton 38 34 Leicester 90 29 Totals 2,735 1,862 * Centres for women. † In view of the limited use made of Southwark it is planned to use it as a centre for men.