§ 74. Mr. BuckleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his current plans for addressing the problem of homeless families in the light of the recent Audit Commission report, "Housing the Homeless: the Local Authority Role".
§ Mr. TrippierI have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Patnick) on 22 February at column700.
§ 88. Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance his Department is giving to help overcome the problems faced by the single homeless in London; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TrippierWe have taken a number of measures designed to assist the single homeless who do not fall into a priority need category. These include funding the Housing Corporation's programme of hostels and shared housing, which nationally has approved at least 18,500 places since 1981, and giving priority to key workers through the Housing Corporation's mixed funding programme with a total of £58 million being made available in 1988–89 for this initiative. The Department has produced a leaflet which has been widely distributed, encouraging householders to take in lodgers; and we have also funded a IYSH trust leaflet which informs young people of their housing options before they leave home. The Housing Act 1988 will, of course, increase the amount of private rented accommodation, in the sector where young people have traditionally sought accommodation.
§ 94. Mr. LofthouseTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider reallocating capital receipts in stress areas to help local authorities provide homes for homeless households.
§ Mr. TrippierMy right hon. Friend has no powers to do this. The incidence of homelessness is, however, taken into account when capital allocations for housing are distributed to local housing authorities.