§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he possesses, and what action he intends to take in order to obtain further such information, showing the actual numbers of families becoming homeless consequent on default in mortgage payments and the changes in the proportion of homeless persons in this category over the last five years.
§ Mr. TrippierEnglish local authorities provide quarterly information about the number of households accepted under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985; this includes the number of households accepted where the main reason for homelessness was mortgage arrears or default.
In the 12 months to June 1988 it is estimated that 9,800 households became homeless as a result of mortgage arrears; this is some 8 per cent. of all acceptances. For corresponding information in each of the last five years, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hammersmith (Mr. Soley) on 27 June at column 146.