§ Mr. Blairasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money his Department pays out annually to those running hostels and hotels whose occupants include homeless people; and what is the number of people living in such accommodation.
§ Dr. BoysonSeparate information is not kept in respect of establishments whose occupants include homeless people.
The total number of supplementary benefit claimants in ordinary board and lodging accommodation including hostels and hotels in Great Britain at December 1982 was 84,000. The average amount of benefit in payment was £37.80. This includes an allowance for personal expenses and is net of any other income which is taken into account in the supplementary benefit assessment. It is not therefore possible to identify separately the amount paid in respect of accommodation charges.