§ Mr. Wrigglesworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the number of homeless people living in slum housing in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. ArmstrongDetailed estimates of the number of households accepted as homeless by local authorities in England for each of the half yearly periods from the first half of 1975 to the first half of 1977 are in the appropriate homelessness reports and Press notices lodged in the Library. Before 1975, statistical information on homelessness was returned to the DHSS, and it was collected on a different basis. Results for years earlier than 1975 are not directly comparable for the reasons explained in the document I am sending to the hon. Member.
It is estimated that the number of people living in unfit dwellings in England declined from about 2½ million in 1971 to about 1½ million in 1976. Estimates are not available for other years.