§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance his Department gives to charitable organisations providing accommodation for homeless persons.
§ Mr. AncramAssistance is available from the Scottish Development Department to voluntary organisations concerned with homelessness under section 13 of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977. This is available for innovative projects with a Scottish application, however; local projects providing accommodation would not normally be eligible. In the current year, grant aid is being given under section 13 towards the administrative costs of the Scottish Council for Single Homeless and Scottish Women's Aid and towards Shelter (Scotland's) Young Persons' Housing Project.
Assistance is also given under the urban programme to a number of projects for the homeless sponsored by the voluntary sector, including some which provide accommodation. The amount of this assistance cannot readily be quantified.
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of local authority financial support for charitable organisations providing accommodation for homeless persons.
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§ Mr. AncramThis information is not collected centrally. I must refer the hon. Member to the local authorities in which he is interested.
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance his Department gives to housing authorities for the continuation of emergency accommodation for homeless persons; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AncramThe Government have increased the planned level of capital investment in public sector housing this year to £322 million, an increase of £46 million, or over 16 per cent. above the figure at the beginning of the last financial year. Within the block capital allocations to local authorities the Government do not hypothecate sums for particular purposes and it is for individual authorities to decide on their own priorities within the resources available according to local circumstances and needs. Financial assistance towards current expenditure on hostels and lodging houses is available through housing support grant; in 1986–87 this amounts to £952,711.
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the cost in providing bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless persons in Scotland.
§ Mr. AncramThe information requested is not available for Scotland.
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice his Department has given to the new town development corporations to assist district councils in making provision for homeless persons.
§ Mr. Allan StewartThe code of guidance on the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 was issued by my Department to new town development corporations in September 1980. Chapter 7 of the code contains guidance on management policies to facilitate co-operation between development corporations and housing authorities under section 9 of the Act.
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many homeless persons there were in Scotland for each year since 1979.
§ Mr. AncramThe following table shows the number of applications under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 made to local authorities in the year ending 31 March:
Year ending 31 March Number of applications 1979 16,123 1980 15,466 1981 14,861 1982 15,950 1983 16,521 1984 15,245 1985 17,856
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice his Department has given to regional councils providing social work support for homeless persons in the 16 to 18 year age group.
§ Mr. John MacKayA code of guidance on the discharge of their functions under the Homeless Persons Act 1977 was issued to both district and regional and 295W islands authorities in September 1980. The points addressed specifically to regional and islands councils concerned matters of practice and provision by social work departments and the need for co-operation with the district council housing departments, both through formal administrative structures and at the level of casework. The code makes no mention of persons in any particular age group, but I have no reason to think that it requires any expansion for this purpose.
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given to local authorities on the provision of emergency accommodation for homeless persons in the 16 to 18 year age group.
§ Mr. AncramIt is primarily for local authorities to assess what provision is appropriate in their areas, in the light of local circumstances and the level of resources available. However, part 7 of the Scottish Housing Handbook, "Housing for Single People, Shared Accommodation and Hostels" (HMSO, 1984), gives guidance to local authorities on the provsion of accommodation suitable for single people including, in chapter 3, detail design guidance for hostels.
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many homeless persons currently live in bed and breakfast accommodation in Scotland.
§ Mr. AncramIt is estimated that there were some 500 persons temporarily housed in bed and breakfast or emergency accommodation at 31 December 1985 who applied under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977.