HC Deb 16 December 1977 vol 941 cc598-600W
Mr. Robin F. Cook

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost to the Supplementary Benefits Commission of the 21 reception and resettlement centres directly administered by the Commission in the financial year 1976–77; what proportion of the total cost of these centres was recovered by the Commission through board and lodging payments made by men and women using the centres; and what were the specific costs to the Commission in 1976–77 of maintaining and administering the following three centres: (a) Camberwell, Consort Road, Peckham, (b) Glasgow, 200 Crosshill Road, Bishop-briggs, and (c) Walkden, Sharp Street, Worsley, Manchester.

Mr. Deakins

Of the 21 reception centres directly administered by the Supplementary Benefits Commission in the financial year 1976–77, 14 also provided re-establishment centre facilities which were not separately costed. The total cost to my Department of these centres in that year was £3,781,000, including £1,150,700 for the Camberwell centre, £126,600 for the Glasgow centre, and £148,200 for the Walkden centre. The total amount recovered through board and lodging payments was £172,800.

Mr. Robin F. Cook

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many beds are available in the 21 reception centres directly administered by the Supplementary Benefits Commission,

Number of beds Average nightly occupancy
Camberwell, London, SEI5 938 452
Cedars Lodge, London, SW4 100 83
Bridge House, London, W10 120 102
Pound Lodge, London, NW10 80 76
Lancelot Andrewes House, London, SE1 60 46
West End, London, W1 80 62
Camden, London, WC1 35 33
Alvaston, Derby 104 47
Crown Quay Lodge, Sittingbourne, Kent 76 49
Fazakerly, Liverpool 61 21
Glasgow 64 51
Leeds 96 56
Newbury 68 67
Plawsworth, Co. Durham 112 70
Southampton 80 83
South Wales, Bridgend, Mid-Glamorgan 64 61
Walkden, Manchester 84 65
West Midlands, Stourbridge, Worcestershire 140 105
Winterbourne, Bristol 112 71
Woodhouse, Sheffield 96 61
2,570 1,661

Mr. Robin F. Cook

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many of the men currently residing in the Camberwell Reception Centre, London, S.E.15, are in the opinion of the Supplementary Benefits Commission eligible for (a) residential accommodation under Section 21(1)(a) of the National Assistance Act 1948, or (b) housing accommodation under Sections 1 to 4 of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977;

(2) what arrangements the Supplementary Benefits Commission has established with relevant local authorities to enable those so eligible to secure such accommodation from the reception centre.

Mr. Deakins

I will circulate the information in theOfficial Report as soon as possible.

both in total and by centre; and what is the current average occupancy rate of these beds, both in total and by centre.

Mr. Deakins

The number of reception centres directly administered by the Supplementary Benefits Commission is now 20, providing 2,570 beds in total. The average nightly occupancy is 1,661. Centre by centre the information is as follows: