§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will identify the programmes, or parts of programmes, in the housing chapter of the public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 9428-II) which have as their object a reduction in the number of homeless people.
§ Mr. Gow:The housing programme includes provision for £3 billion of capital investment in each of the next three years. One of the aims of the programme, set out in the White Paper, is to enable local authorities, housing associations and new towns to provide accommodation for those whose needs cannot be met in the private sector. It is for each authority to decide the relative priorities of those in need, including homeless people.