§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the Government's initiative on homelessness.
§ Sir George YoungThe Government have committed significant resources to reduce the numbers sleeping out in London, to assist local authorities faced with severe homelessness pressures and to provide direct assistance through homelessness advice and support schemes. As I announced on 18 December, we are making available £96 million over three years to provide short-term direct access hostels for people sleeping on the streets and longer term accommodation in housing association flats and houses for those currently in hostels. Nick Hardwick, director of Centrepoint, has joined my team for six months to work on the development of this programme. £300 million is being allocated over this year and next to local authorities and housing associations in London and the south-east in order to reduce the extent to which they have to use bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless families. In addition we have expanded support to the voluntary sector to £2 million this year, and £4.5 million next year, to establish a national homelessness advice service and to run practical projects to help single homeless people find temporary and permanent accommodation.