§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the kind of centrally held information gathered by his Department regarding(a) homelessness in general, (b) young homeless people, (c) housing for the disabled and (d) housing and the elderly.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 27 July 1988]: Information on homelessness is gathered by the Scottish Development Department from local authorities on a case return basis for each applicant household. This details category of priority need; reasons for loss/threatened loss of accommodation; whether temporary accommodation pending inquiries was provided; circumstances of the household; and type of accommodation secured. Age of applicant households is not collected. Information on homeless households in short stay accommodation is collected quarterly from local authorities.
Statistical returns collected annually from local authorities give the level and type of provision at 31 March each year, both of special needs housing and bed spaces for the elderly and disabled.