§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will suspend the resettlement unit closure programme until regional review teams are reconstituted and the national advisory steering group is reconvened.
§ Miss WiddecombeWe have no plans to do so.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations he undertakes to assess what alternatives exist before approving the closure of a resettlement unit.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe resettlement unit disengagement programme has been built on advice from regional review teams which comprise of local people with an interest in, or experience of the problems of homelessness among single people without a settled way of life. They have identified facilities necessary to enable specific resettlement units to be replaced. Where units are closed the Government have to be satisfied that the proposed new hostels are suitable and that the number of replacement beds is at least the same as the number of beds in normal use in the resettlement unit.