HC Deb 04 February 1987 vol 109 cc717-8W
19. Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make more resources available to local authorities in respect of bed-and-breakfast cost for homeless people.

Mr. John Patten

Local authorities have been asked to concentrate their available resources on homeless people and others in special need; it is for them to decide how to accommodate people they have accepted as homeless. Recent Government measures to help reduce reliance on bed-and-breakfast accommodation were set out in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) on 16 January. Further steps are continually being considered by us and, I am sure, by the authorities most concerned.