§ Mr. Rossiasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many persons he estimates fall within the definitions of homeless and in priority need as contained in the Housing (Homeless Persons) Bill.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThe statistics which have been published by my Department for each six-month period since 1st January 1975 show that local authorities in England accepted responsibility for securing the provision of accommodation for the following numbers of homeless households of whom the percentages shown were identified by authorities as falling within the priority groups specified in Circular 18/74 issued in February 1974:
Homeless Households Percentages in Priority Groups 1st January 1975 to 30th June 1975 17,320 92 1st July 1975 to 31st December 1975 16,380 93 1st January 1976 to 30th June 1976 17,120 89 These figures provide the best guide available.
§ Mr. Rossiasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authorities concerning the new duties proposed to be imposed upon them by the Housing (Homeless Persons) Bill and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, whether they consider that they require additional resources to acquire or construct further accommodation to fulfil such duties.
§ Mr. ArmstrongNo representations have been received either from any local authority or from any of the local authority associations. We have been in close consultation with the associations since the date of my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for 65W Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Mr. Brown) on 15th December 1975.—[Vol. 902, c. 473–5.] It is agreed that the provision of accommodation for homeless people is to be met within normal housing programmes.
§ Mr. Rossiasked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent the duties to be imposed upon local authorities under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Bill will override their existing obligations to house persons in housing need; and what estimate has been made of the impact of such new duties on local authority housing waiting lists.
§ Mr. ArmstrongThe Bill proposes that authorities be under a duty to secure that accommodation, not necessarily a local authority dwelling, becomes or does not cease to be available to certain homeless people. I have today indicated to the House in reply to another Question the extent to which authorities have secured the provision of accommodation for homeless households in the recent past.
§ Mr. Rossiasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money he contemplates making available for grant to voluntary organisations under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Bill; and from which sector of housing expenditure they will be taken, in the light of the statement in the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum to the Bill that funds can be made available by rearrangement of priorities within approved limits.
§ Mr. ArmstrongMy right hon. Friend has it in mind to make available a sum in programme 7.1.A.5 of Class VII, 1 of the Supply Estimates. He intends that the sum should be limited to an amount that can be accommodated within approved limits.