§ 71. Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of people who live in bed and breakfast accommodation for more than six months per year; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe information available on the numbers of households placed in bed and breakfast accommodation by local authorities under the homelessness provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 does not enable estimates to be made in the form requested.
The code of guidance issued to local authorities on the exercise of their homelessness functions makes it clear that bed and breakfast accommodation should be used only as a last resort and then only for as short a period as possible.