§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will define in detail those persons who qualify as homeless for the purpose of short-term lettings referred to in note 5 (6) of his reply to the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) on 15 January.
§ Mr. StanleyThe homeless persons referred to in note 5(b) of my reply are those to whom a tenancy is granted in pursuance of section 3(4), 4(5) or 5(6) of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977. These are:—
(a)Persons whom the authority believe may be homeless and have priority need, and for whom they provide accommodation pending the outcome of their inquiries;(b) Persons whom the authority are satisfied are homeless and have priority need but whose homelessness was intentional, and for whom they provide accomodation for a limited period;415W>(c) Persons whom the authority are satisfied are homeless, have priority need and whose homelessness was not intentional, and for whom they provide accommodation until it is decided whether they or some other authority are responsible for securing accommodation.
§ Mr. Spellerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the context of his review of current legislation, he will consider legislation to remove from local authorities the statutory obligation to rehouse or acccommodate those who have deliberately made themselves homeless.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 already provides that local authorities shall secure accommodation for those who are intentionally homeless and in priority need for a limited period only. That obligation need not necessarily be met by the provision of council accommodation and the Act enables authorities to charge for accommodation secured. The effect of these provisions upon local authorities is one of the issues being considered in the review of the Act.