§ 14. Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest estimate of the number of homeless people in Scotland.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe number of households which applied to local authorities under the 349W homelessness provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 is estimated to have been 25,000 in 1988–89. Of these, about 9,500 were assessed by local authorities as homeless.
§ 19. Mr. Michael J. MartinTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to combat homelessness in Scotland.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Government have taken a number of measures to ensure that housing needs in Scotland are more closely matched by housing provision. It is for local authorities to deal with cases of homelessness.