§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the number of registered homeless people in each of the 32 London boroughs on 17 November;
(2) what was the known number of homeless people in the United Kingdom on 16 November.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerLocal authorities have a statutory duty to secure accommodation for households who have been found to be homeless or threatened with homelessness, under part III of the Housing Act 1985. The numbers of households accepted and found accommodation are reported quarterly to the Department. Latest estimates for England, and figures reported by the London boroughs, appear in tables 1(a) and 7, respectively, of "Local authorities' action under the homeless provisions of the 1985 Housing Act: England. Results for the second quarter 1990. Supplementary Tables". A copy is in the Library.
For information about other parts of the United Kingdom, I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales, for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.