HC Deb 23 April 1985 vol 77 cc413-4W
Mr. Stuart Holland

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what financial resources his Department intends to schedule to meet the special needs of single homeless men, following the closure of the Camberwell reception centre;

(2) whether his Department anticipates that local boroughs will be able to accept financial responsibility for those displaced by the closure of the Camberwell reception centre;

Total revenue collected (£000) Number of contributors (£000's)
Year Class 1 Class 2 Class 4 Employees Self employed Part employed and part self employed
Primary Secondary
1979–80 3,951,989 6,207,006 139,800 104,800 24,193 1,376 232
1980–81 4,837,982 7,426,942 158,600 118,200 23,323 1,395 203
1981–82 5,842,102 7,857,505 196,000 126,600 22,338 1,241 183
1982–83 7,146,332 8,738,004 247,294 153,100 * * *
1983–84 8,189,123 8,938,600 297,500 175,000 * * *
* Due to industrial action at Newcastle computer centre figures not yet available.

(3) what response his Department is making to the detailed proposals made by four London boroughs for alternatives to the closure of the Camberwell reception centre.

Mr. Whitney

The programme for the replacement of the Camberwell resettlement unit announced in November 1981 included the provision of 985 new hostel bedspaces jointly financed by this Department and the Department of the Environment. The Department of the Environment through the Housing Corporation will provide the capital for 785 bedspaces, the balance being funded by this Department. The revenue funding will come from charges to residents, hostel deficit grant from the Department of the Environment and direct grants from this Department. The eventual annual revenue cost of the direct grants from this Department will be £1.418 million at 1985–86 prices.

Part of the Camberwell replacement programme is the provision of hostels with direct access bedspaces. The financial involvement of the four London boroughs will be limited to this area. Negotiations with these boroughs about the financial arrangements are continuing.