Homelessness

HC Deb 18 May 1988 vol 133 cc480-1W

44. Mr. Fraser

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures for homelessness in(a) England and (b) Wales.

Mrs. Roe

The number of households accepted as homeless by English local authorities appears in table I of "Local authorities' action under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England—Statistics for the fourth quarter of 1987", which is available in the Library. For Welsh figures I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

55. Mr. Livsey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he intends to take to combat the problem of homelessness in rural areas.

Mrs. Roe

The measures in the housing White Paper will increase housing choice generally, including that available in rural areas. We have already announced that the Housing Corporation will aim to double the present level of provision by housing associations in rural areas. After discussion with representatives of rural communities we are considering further action that may be needed.

68. Mr. Caborn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department will publish monthly figures of homelessness in England and Wales.

Mrs. Roe

The information received on local authorities' action under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985 is provided by English local authorities in quarterly returns: it is not proposed to change the frequency of reporting.

Ms. Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide figures for each year between 1979 and 1988 for the estimated number of people homeless in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) Dorset and (c) Bournemouth.

Mrs. Roe

The numbers of households for whom Bournemouth and the other local authorities in Dorset reported accepting responsibility for securing accommodation in the years 1981 to 1986, appear in a table placed in the Library in May 1987. Information for the years 1979 and 1980 is available in "Local Housing Statistics" issues No. 54 (table 14), No. 59 (table 9) and No. 62 (table 13) which are also in the Library.

Total acceptances reported by the authorities in Dorset for 1987 are 845, of which Bournemouth reported 217. Christchurch has not provided returns for the first and fourth quarters and Wimborne made no returns.

Acceptances by all English authorities including estimates for missing returns, are as follows:

	Acceptances
1979	53,110
1980	57,200
1981	62,920
1982	70,010
1983	74,800
1984	78,240
1985	83,550
1986	94,530
1987	105,280

A new reporting system was introduced for non-metropolitan districts from the fourth quarter 1980 and for the other authorities from the third quarter 1982, so that figures are not strictly comparable over the whole period.

For corresponding information for Scotland and Wales, I refer the hon. Member to the respective Secretary of State.