§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department's Circular 13/74 was issued to all local authorities with responsibility for housing.
§ Dr. OwenNo: that circular was concerned only with the functions of social services authorities; but the joint circular on homelessness—DHSS 4/74—was sent to all local authorities, including those with responsibility for housing, on 7th February 1974, and this explained the intention of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to make a direction in regard to the duty of social services authorities to provide temporary accommodation.