§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the list and number of service depots or departments closed over the past two years and those planned to be closed for the next two years indicating the number and nature of civilian jobs lost or to be lost.
§ Mr. Lee[pursuant to the reply, 10 July 1984, c. 454]: Service depots and departments closed over the past two years are as listed. Only closures where over 25 civilian job opportunities have been lost are included. Also listed are depots and departments expected to close in the next two years. Examination of others is continuing.
(3) if he will estimate the total cost to his Department's budget in each of the last three years of providing for single homeless persons (a) furnished accommodation and (b) furniture grant plus rent assistance;
(4) what is the current average value of a furniture grant payable to single homeless persons.
§ Dr. BoysonInformation collected centrally on supplementary benefit payments does not identify separately payments made to single homeless people. I refer the hon. Member, however, to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Burt) on 6 July 1984, at columns344–45, in which I gave an estimate of the number and average value of single payments for 251W essential furniture and household equipment to all groups of claimants in 1982. A single homeless person, without any furniture or household equipment, would, however, be likely to receive considerably more than the average amount shown, as this average includes payments to people who already have most essential items or who just need an item replaced.