HC Deb 13 December 1989 vol 163 cc717-8W
57. Mr. Franks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what extra resources local authorities will receive over the next two years to tackle the problem of homelessness.

Mr. Chope

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew) on 4 December at column36.

58. Mr. Bright

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the problems caused for Luton by outside local authorities housing homeless people in the borough who subsequently become eligible for housing by the borough council.

Mr. Chope

I will write to my hon. Friend.

64. Mr. Allen McKay

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the number of homeless people in the area of Barnsley district council; what action he is prepared to take to help these people; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Chope

The number of households reported to my Department as having been accepted by Barnsley metropolitan borough council as homeless during the period from the third quarter of 1988 to the second quarter of 1989 was 160.

Homelessness in the area was discussed at a meeting between councillors and officers of Barnsley metropolitan borough council and officials of my Department in early October to discuss the council's housing investment programme submission, and is one of the factors involved in making decisions on the housing investment programme allocations for 1990–91, being announced his week.

69. Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of homeless people in the Greater London area on 29 November.

Mr. Chope

Local authorities make returns to the Department on numbers of households accepted as homeless on a quarterly and not daily basis.

The figures for the latest quarter ending 30 June 1989 are in the Library.

98. Mr. Couchman

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional resources housing associations will receive over the next two years to reduce the problem of homelessness.

Mr. Chope

The Housing Corporation, which provides grants and loans to housing associations, will receive an additional £36 million in 1990–91, and £37 million in 1991–92, as part of the Government's homelessness initiative. This is additional to the Housing Corporation's main programme of capital expenditure, in the distribution of which a high priority is given to schemes designed to alleviate homelessness.

105. Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the likely effect of his recent announcement on homelessness, 15 November,Official Report, columns 243–44, on those who are currently sleeping rough.

Mr. Chope

It is too early to say what will happen to particular groups of people. We have invited bids from local authorities and housing associations, for the £250 million of extra resources we have made available to tackle problems of homelessness in the pressure areas, and we are also inviting charitable, and voluntary organisations to apply for further resources to intensify and improve their services to people who are actually or potentially homeless.

106. Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the latest figures for the number of households accepted as homeless.

Mr. Chope

I will write to the hon. Member.

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