§ 59. Mr. Andersonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue further guidance to local authorities on the use of their powers under the Housing and Public Health Acts to enforce adequate standards in commercial bed-and-breakfast accommodation used by homeless people, in view of the evidence of unsatisfactory conditions in this form of accommodation.
§ Sir George YoungNo. Further guidance would be unnecessary since local authorities are well aware of their powers.
§ 60. Mr. Irvingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has Ito issue guidance to local authorities on the use of their powers to enforce adequate standards in commercial bed-and-breakfast accommodation used by homeless people.
§ Sir George YoungNone. It is for local authorities to decide when the use of their powers would be appropriate in their local circumstances.
§ 68. Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the numbers of people 609W currently placed in temporary accommodation in bed-and-breakfast hotels and similar establishments by local authorities.
§ Sir George YoungAt the end of June 1983, the latest date for which information is currently available, 2,460 households in England were living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation, having been placed there by local authorities as homeless.