§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the number of homeless households placed by (i) local authorities in greater London and (ii) local authorities in the non-metropolitan areas in bed and breakfast accommodation (a) at the end of 1984 and (b) at end of 1985;
(2) what is his Department's explanation of the increase in the number of homeless households placed by (i) local
In bed and breakfast Increase Accepted as homeless during Increase 31 December 1984 31 December 1985 number percentage 1984 1985 number percentage Greater London 2,400 2,960 560 23 25,180 27,390 2,210 9 Non Metropolitan areas 750 1,100 350 47 35,820 41,890 6,070 17 The number of households in bed and breakfast accommodation reflects the availability of alternative accommodation locally and the level of acceptances by individual local authorities. An additional factor is the volume of applications and the extent to which authorities place households in bed and breakfast pending the completion of inquiries into their circumstances.
Though proportionately the increase in households in bed and breakfast accommodation in the non-metropolitan areas has recently been larger than in Greater London, it has been smaller in absolute terms and smaller in relation to the number of acceptances.