§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will bring forward proposals for stricter fire regulations for private hostels and lodging houses;
(2) what is his policy regarding living conditions in private hostels; what information he collects about living conditions in private hostels, and if he will publish this; and whether he will take steps to compel owners of private hostels to improve living conditions.
§ Mr. StanleyLocal authorities have a comprehensive range of powers in the Housing Acts of 1957, 1961, 1964 and 1969, relating to houses in multiple occupation, including private hostels. This includes power to require the owner of a house in multiple occupation to improve living conditions and to specify and require, in consultation with the fire authority, work to provide satisfactory means of escape from fire. Authorities are empowered to carry out the works themselves in default and to recover costs.
For houses in multiple occupation, I propose in the forthcoming Housing Bill to enable local authorities to pay grant towards the cost of providing means of escape from fire, and to make a contribution towards the cost of repairs when improvement works are being grant-aided.
A survey to provide information about living conditions in private hostels was conducted by Office of Population Censuses and Surveys and published in 1976 under the title "Hostels and Lodgings for Single People". A research project on homelessness among single people, 341W being sponsored by my Department, will include private hostels and lodging houses in the accommodation to be studied.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department has no plans at present to designate houses in multiple occupation under section 1 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971.