§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make further statements on the measures which he has taken to reduce homelessness.
§ Mr. YeoWe have spent £311 million on a two-year programme to help homeless families in the pressure areas of London and the south-east. We also plan to spend £96 million over three years to create 900 new hostel spaces and 2,500 places in permanent accommodation for single homeless people in London and £20 million on grants to organisations helping homeless people all over the country. In addition, development of low-cost housing is rising substantially as a result of increases in public expenditure through the Housing Corporation to more than £2 billion a year by 1993–94 and housing associations' ability to attract private finance. The deregulation of the private rented sector has also led to a welcome increase in private investment in rented housing.