HC Deb 19 July 1988 vol 137 cc554-5W
Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate, county by county, of the number of homeless people in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Grist

Actual figures for cases of statutory homelessness are supplied quarterly to the Department by all Welsh local authorities. Figures for 1987, county by county, are as follows:—

Number of cases presented Number of cases accepted
Clwyd 1,190 840
Dyfed 596 532
Gwent 1,952 1,114
Gwynedd 435 227
Mid Glamorgan 1,693 1,008
Powys 146 120
South Glamorgan 1,339 696
West Glamorgan 1,072 757
Wales 8,423 5,294

The number of cases accepted as homeless in Wales in 1987 represents an 11 per cent. decrease over 1986.

Mr. Barry Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what further measures he proposes to tackle homelessness.

Mr. Grist

As I told the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Hughes), on 20 May at columns608–609, we are concerned to increase the supply of rented accommodation for those in greatest housing need through the specific proposals in the Housing Bill.