§ Mr. HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many disabled people were accepted by local authorities in England and Wales as priority homeless because of physical disability in each year from 1979 to 1989, respectively.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerEstimates of the numbers of households accepted by English local authorities as homeless and in priority need because of physical disability are as follows:
Number 1979 1,100 1980 1,200 1981 1,600 1982 2,000 1983 1,700 1984 2,200 1985 2,700 1986 2,900 1987 2,900 1988 3,000 1989 3,200 However, because of changes in the reporting system in 1980 and 1982, figures for the earlier years are not strictly comparable with those since 1983.
For information about Welsh authorities I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.