District and Island Councils (Emergency Accommodation)

HC Deb 28 April 1986 vol 96 cc295-6W

Mr. Norman Hogg

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to the emergency

Mr. Norman Hogg

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice his Department has given to regional, island and district councils to achieve a coordinated response to homelessness; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ancram

Chapter 7 of the code of guidance on the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977, issued by the Scottish Development Department to local authorities in September 1980, contains detailed guidance on co-operation between housing authorities and regional council social work departments. The code recommends that to facilitate co-operation formal administrative structures for liaison should be set up as proposed in the 1975 report by the Morris Committee, "Housing and Social Work—a Joint Approach". I believe that the arrangements to implement this recommendation are best decided locally; I have no indication that they are not working satisfactorily.