§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when last a study of homelessness was undertaken by his Department; what were the findings; and what action he has taken to remedy the problem.
§ Mr. AncramThe Scottish Development Department has not carried out such a study, although we do monitor the number of applications under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 and detailed statistics are published at intervals. The need for further information, including research, is being kept under review.
Homelessness is a serious, but localised, problem. It is for individual housing authorities to decide on their own priorities within the resources available to them.
Cumbernauld East Kilbride Glenrothes Irvine Livingston 1974 866 712 122 386 890 1975 738 886 588 1,086 933 1976 416 1,154 443 968 1,672 1977 841 155 455 904 1,277 1978 747 47 385 488 546 1979 453 148 579 574 933 1980 296 261 416 193 682 1981 280 263 539 571 297 1982 320 125 222 115 404 1983 145 374 377 174 321 1984 70 288 220 120 183 1985 278 217 103 158 222