§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make amendments to the supplementary benefit regulations to ensure that bed and breakfast accommodation is used to house homeless people only in the last resort.
§ Dr. BoysonResponsibility for providing appropriate assistance to homeless people in finding accommodation rests with local housing authorities under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977, rather than with the supplementary benefits scheme. It is for local authorities to consider how to fulfil their duties, having regard to the Government's code of guidance which advises them to use bed and breakfast accommodation only as a last resort. The role of supplementary benefit is to provide appropriate financial support for those homeless people in need of it, whatever the accommodation they may be able to obtain. We have no plans to amend the regulations in this respect.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many young people aged 18 to 20 years in Scotland have lost the £3.10 non-dependant rent addition as a result of the recent changes in housing benefits; how many of these young people have subsequently claimed supplementary benefit as single 348W householders; and what are the estimated gross and net savings from the withdrawal of this rent addition in 1983–84 and 1984–85.
§ Dr. Boyson[pursuant to his reply, 28 June 1984, c. 524]: The information is not available in the form requested. It is however estimated that there were 36,000 18 to 20 year old non-householders claiming supplementary benefit in Scotland in December 1982.