§ 35. Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost to London local authorities of placing homeless families with private landlords.
§ Mr. ChopeThe Department collects information on the cost to local authorities of using bed and breakfast hotels as temporary housing for homeless families. In 1987–88, the last year for which estimates are available, the gross cost to London boroughs of using this type of temporary accommodation was £127 million. Housing subsidy claim forms provide some further information on the cost to local authorities in London of leasing (which includes accommodating homeless families). The provisional figure for 1988–89 was £20.25 million. The Department also takes full note of data available from time to time through other sources.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will carry out a survey of the level of homelessness caused by the number of mortgage repossessions by companies other than building societies.
§ Mr. ChopeLocal authorities already make quarterly returns of the numbers of households for which they had accepted responsibility for securing accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act. These provide a breakdown of the total number of households accepted by main immediate reason for homelessness including mortgage arrears; although it does not distinguish households which were actually subject to repossession or between those which were building society or other types of borrower.
753WLatest estimates appear in table 2 of "Local authorities' action under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the third quarter 1989. Supplementary Tables", a copy of which is in the Library.
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to cut homelessness in Leicester; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe review of the homelessness legislation, published in November 1989 sets out the Government's proposals for tackling homelessness. Copies are in the Library.
§ 103. Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has of the number of homeless people in England.
§ 94. Ms. AbbottTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has of the number of homeless people in London.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerLatest estimates of households accepted as homeless in England appear in table 1(a) of "Local authorities' action under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the third quarter 1989. Supplementary Tables", which is in the Library.
§ 100. Mr. ClellandTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the most rapidly growing cause of homelessness for families seeking emergency accommodation under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerIn percentage terms there has been no significant change over recent years in the reasons why those for whom local authorities accept responsibility to secure accommodation are homeless.
§ 101. Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with companies and societies providing mortgages about the effects of their policies on repossession on the problem of homelessness.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerMinisters and officials at the Department of the Environment frequently meet representatives from institutions which provide mortgages and discuss a range of issues, including possessions.
§ 90. Mr. OrmeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures for homeless households in bed and breakfast accommodation in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerLatest estimates of households temporarily resident in bed and breakfast accommodation in England appear in table 4(a) of "Local authorities' action under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the third quarter 1989. Supplementary Tables", which is in the Library.
For information about Wales I refer the right hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
§ 57. Mr. Roy HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new proposals he has to combat homelessness.
§ 87. Mr. James LamondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any new proposals for combating homelessness.
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§ Mr. Michael SpicerI refer the hon. Members to the reply given to the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) on 17 January at column249.
§ 54. Mr. John GarrettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will carry out a survey of homelessness in rural areas in England.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe Department publishes quarterly statistics, based on returns from local authorities, which show the numbers of households accepted as homeless in each district and the numbers in bed and breakfast and other temporary accommodation. Copies are in the Library.
§ 49. Mr. StottTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest estimate of the cost to local authorities of placing homeless families in bed and breakfast accommodation.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerThe latest estimate of the cost to local authorities of keeping homeless families temporarily in bed and breakfast accommodation is £143 million (£104 million net of offsetting income such as DSS allowances) for 1987–88.
§ 51. Mr. MartlewTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures for homeless households in temporary accommodation in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerLatest estimates of households resident in temporary accommodation in England appear in tables 4(a), 4(b) and 4(c) of "Local authorities' action under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the third quarter 1989. Supplementary tables", which is in the Library.
For information about Wales I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
§ 45. Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's most recent estimate of the number of households accepted as homeless for Greater London; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeLatest estimates of households accepted as homeless in Greater London appear in table 1(a) of "Local authorities' action under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the third quarter 1989. Supplementary tables", which is in the Library.