HC Deb 28 February 1978 vol 945 cc134-6W
Mr. Watkinson

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will take steps to provide in the major cities shelter to which those who live on the streets out of choice or necessity may go each night;

(2) what assistance his Department gives towards the maintenance of capital costs of hostels for single homeless persons;

(3) how many hostels there are in London to provide overnight accommodation for single homeless people;

(4) what are the obligations of local authorities to provide hostel accommodation for single homeless people;

(5) how many beds there are in hostels in London designed to serve the single homeless person living on the street;

(6) what is the best estimate of people living on the streets in London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Glasgow, Cardiff, Manchester and Leeds;

(7) what is the best estimate of people living on the streets of the United Kingdom.

(8) how many charitable organisations are involved in providing accommodation for single homeless persons.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the permanent or temporary use of empty buildings as hostels for homeless single individuals;

(2) if he will make a statement on guidance to local authorities on the provision of approved shelters for people living on the streets.

Mr. Armstrong

The Office of Population Census and Surveys report of its survey in 1972 showed that, in the 156 hostels and lodging houses it surveyed in the Greater London area, there were 10,600 beds and that in Great Britain as a whole there were 674 such hostels and lodging houses providing 31,100 beds. There are, in addition 2,700 beds in reception centres maintained by the Supplementary Benefits Commission. There is, however, no reliable estimate of the number of people living rough in the United Kingdom or the individual cities mentioned.

The OPCS survey showed that about half the establishments covered were provided by voluntary organisations. It is not known, however, how many charitable organisations provide accommodation for single homeless people.

Apart from the duty of the Supplementary Benefits Commission to provide temporary board and lodging for those without a settled way of living, local housing authorities have a general duty to keep under review the housing conditions and needs in their district. They are also required by the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 to afford assistance of some kind to all who approach them and are found to be homeless. They are required by the Act to secure that accommodation is available to those who are in a priority need category as specified in the Act; they are obliged to afford advice and appropriate assistance to others. The code of guidance, associated with the Act, asks that, where resources permit, authorities do all they can to ensure that accommodation is secured for those not in a priority need category. In addition a recent circular—DOE 76/77—on the better use of vacant and under-occupied housing urged the importance of all local authorities making the best possible use of the housing stock in their districts, including short-life and other property. A number of authorities have adapted such property for use as hostels and night shelters.

We have taken a number of important steps since coming into office to improve the availability of accommodation, notably that under the Housing Act 1974 hostel provision and improvement are eligible for housing subsidy and housing association grant. We have also relaxed the rules governing housing association grant and hostel deficit grant so that grant may be payable for hostel projects providing care and support.