§ Mr. HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance his Department is giving to the development of Foyer hostel schemes in England.
§ Mr. BaldryMy Department's assistance for the development of foyer hostel schemes is channelled through the Housing Corporation, in the same way as for other housing association schemes. The corporation is providing revenue support to five pilot projects based around existing YMCA hostels in Nottingham, Norwich, St. Helens, Romford and Wimbledon. It will also be providing capital funding for two new-build foyer schemes in Birmingham and London; and 20 bed spaces at the London scheme will attract revenue support through 95W special needs management allowance. Agreement in principle has been given to capital funding for a third project in Salford.
In addition, my Department has seconded an official to the Foyer Federation for Youth—FFY—a limited company established to promote the growth of foyers in this country; and the head of the Department's homelessness policy division attends meetings of the FFY board as an observer.