§ Mr. Geoffrey RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans the Government have to deal with homelessness in the west midlands; and how they plan to prevent homelessness in the future.
§ Sir George Young[holding answer 25 November 1993]: Resources for increasing and improving local authority and housing association housing stock are provided through the housing investment programme and the Housing Corporation's approved development programme, which take account of the circumstances in each area, including the level of acceptances under part III of the Housing Act 1985. In order to ensure fairer access to permanent social housing for people who need it, the Government propose to reform the homelessness provisions in the Housing Act 1985, and we hope to issue a consultation paper shortly.
§ Mr. Geoffrey RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the major causes of homelessness.
§ Sir George Young[holding answer 25 November 1993]: The main reasons for the loss of the last settled home, as given by people accepted by local authorities for rehousing under part III of the Housing Act 1985, were associated with parents, relatives or friends being no longer willing or able to accommodate, and relationship breakdown. Details appear in the quarterly information bulletins issued by my Department, which are available in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Geoffrey RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the largest age group of homeless people.
§ Sir George Young[holding answer 25 November 1993]: The returns that local authorities make to my Department on the number of households accepted under part III of the Housing Act 1985 do not include information on age groups.