§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on alleviating homelessness in the light of Professor John Grieve's recent report on homelessness in Greater London, a copy of which has been sent to him; and what is his estimate of the comparative public sector costs of housing homeless families in London by (i) providing them with newly built council dwellings, (ii) providing them with dwellings acquired from the private sector and improved for letting and (iii) providing them with bed-and-breakfast accommodation.
§ Mr. John PattenI shall answer this question shortly.
39W
§ Mr. Chris Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the estimated (a) net expenditure and (b) gross expenditure on bed-and-breakfast accommodation for homeless households recorded by local authorities on his Department's RO4 forms for the financial year 1985–86; and if he will give this information for England as a whole, and for each local authority area.
§ Mr. TraceyI have today placed the information available in the House of Commons Library.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the report entitled "Homeless Young People in Britain: The Contribution of the Private Sector," a copy of which has been sent to him by Duncan Guthrie, the director of the disabilities study unit; if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TraceyI shall answer this question shortly.
§ Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to combat the rise in homelessness and bad housing conditions; and if he will make a statement on the recent launch of the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless 1987.
§ Mr. John PattenI shall answer this question shortly.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many people have been accepted as homeless by each London borough council in 1978 and in each subsequent year;
(2) how many people accepted as homeless were housed in bed-and-breakfast, other temporal accommodation or in permanent accommodation, respectively, by each London borough council in 1978 and in each year since.
§ Mr. TraceyI shall answer these questions shortly.