HC Deb 25 July 1980 vol 989 cc424-5W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many battered women and their children are currently homeless and in bed and breakfast accommodation.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

I regret that this information is not available centrally.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes and hostels for battered women and their children have been forced to close in the last year; and how many places were lost in each.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

The Department does not collect this information.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that there is adequate housing provision for battered women and their children; what steps he is taking to increase this; and what financial help he proposes to give.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

It is for individual housing authorities to assess the housing needs of their areas, including taking decisions on how to use the resources available to them for housing investment. In addition, funds from the Department's urban aid programme help some voluntary groups operating refuges in major towns.