HC Deb 11 May 1990 vol 172 cc244-5W
Mr. Soley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which organisations previously funded by section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 have recently had their grants terminated; and on what grounds;

(2) what was the level of Department of the Environment funding of those organisations previously funded by section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 at the point of termination.

Mr. Michael Spicer

[holding answer 10 May 1990]: This year we have trebled the funds available under section 73 to £2 million. Half will go to a new national advice service based on citizens' advice bureaux and involving Shelter and SHAC. The remaining £1 million goes to a total of 26 bodies providing direct assistance and practical help to single homeless people. Priority in choosing successful applications has been given to projects which will either take single homeless people off the streets or will work directly with young people and persuading them not to leave home and/or come to London.

The following organisations which received grant under section 73 in 1989–90 have submitted unsuccessful applications for funding of specific projects in 1990–91:

  • Bayswater Hotel Homeless Project
  • Birmingham Settlement, Housing Debtline
  • British Refugee Council
  • CHAR "Housing Campaign for Single People"
  • Central London Housing Advisory Service Ltd.
  • Community House Information Centre
  • Empty Property Unit
  • First Key
  • Homes for Homeless People
  • Resource Information Service
  • National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO)
  • National Association of Voluntary Hostels
  • National Council of One Parent Families
  • Specialist Information Training Resource Agency (SITRA)

These organisations received 44 per cent. of the funds granted under section 73 in 1989–90. All bodies which received funding in 1989–90 were reminded four times that existing recipients had no guarantee of continued funding.