HC Deb 13 December 1993 vol 234 c439W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many hostel spaces for the homeless in Doncaster have been supported by his Department in(a) 1990–91, (b) 1991–92, (c) 1992–93 and (d) the current year; and if he will make a statement.

Sir George Young

The Government provide resources, through the programmes of the Housing Corporation, for capital and revenue funding towards housing associations schemes for people with special needs. The information which follows gives the number of bed-spaces in such schemes in the metropolitan borough of Doncaster which have received revenue funding for that year and the amount of capital funding which has contributed to the addition of new bed-spaces in that year.

Bed-spaces Revenue funding £ Capital funding £
1990–91 37 92,000 206,000
1991–92 43 137,000 128,000
1992–93 54 144,000 382,000
1993–94 58 158,000 116,000

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of hostel accommodation beds available for elderly homeless people at risk in central London in November 1991, November 1992 and November 1993.

Sir George Young

This information is not held centrally.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, what discussions he has held regarding provision to replace the beds for the homeless lost in Central London on the closure of the Salvation Army hostel in Great Peter street.

Sir George Young

The responsibility for the funding of new provision through housing associations is vested in the Housing Corporation, which I understand has had discussions with the Salvation Army about the future of the Great Peter street site. More generally, under the Government's rough sleepers initiative, the Housing Corporation is planning to provide funding for about 1,500 new bedspaces in Central London over a three-year period beginning this year.