HC Deb 15 May 1992 vol 207 c236W
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance his Department proposes to give over the next two years to those charitable organisations which provide shelter to homeless people in Leeds.

Mr. Baldry

For 1992–93 the Department has offered financial assistance under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 to the voluntary organisations Caring for Life, Nightstop, St. Anne's Shelter and Leeds Action to Create Homes, all of which are projects which provide direct practical help to homeless people in Leeds. Funding for future years is subject to negotiation.

Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many units of permanent accommodation are to be provided in 1992–93 in(a) West Yorkshire and (b) Leeds West for mentally ill homeless people moving out of specialist short-term hostels funded by his Department; what resources are to be provided in 1992–93 to meet the needs of these people once they are ready to move into more permanent accommodation; and what arrangements he has to co-ordinate the provision of more permanent accommodation.

Mr. Baldry

My Department does not fund directly specialist short-term hostels for mentally ill people. Total housing investment programme allocations made to west Yorkshire local authorities for 1992–93 are as follows:

£
Bradford 11.896
Calderdale 7.508
Kirklees 11.917
Leeds 27.424
Wakefield 10.800

Within their total resources, it is for each authority to consider all the housing needs in its area, including the need for permanent accommodation, and to determine its priorities accordingly.