§ 47. Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken or are planned to overcome the problems confronting homeless people.
§ Mr. StanleyResponsibility for assisting homeless people or those immediately threatened with homelessness164W rests upon local authorities, in accordance with the provision of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977. The Government have allocated £12 million to the Housing Corporation for 1981–82 for hostels and have maintained the Housing Corporation's allocation in real terms in the current year. Other measures introduced by the Government which may be of assistance to the homeless include the various measures to help local authorities provide low-cost home ownership opportunities, the powers given to authorities to let empty dwellings short-term to those who are homeless, the rights given to council tenants to take in lodgers and to sublet, the introduction of shorthold and the greater encouragement given to owner-occupiers to let spare rooms.