HL Deb 15 July 1992 vol 539 c38WA
Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the decision to close the Lawrie Park Hostel for the young homeless is cost effective?

Lord Strathclyde

The hostel at Lawrie Park Road, Sydenham, was funded by the Government for the specific purpose of providing emergency accommodation for people sleeping rough over the winter months; and on the clear understanding that, once winter was over, funding would cease. Under the Rough Sleepers Initiative the Government are already funding the provision of 900 hostel spaces and some 2,900 places in more permanent accommodation for people in hostels to move on to. The permanent accommodation will, in turn, free up more places in hostels for those in need.