HC Deb 18 January 1996 vol 269 c663W
Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of(a) the number of hostel places available for the homeless in London, (b) the number of unused hostel places in London, (c) the number of empty council houses in (i) central London and (ii) the old LCC area and (d) the estimated number of rough sleepers in London. [8876]

Mr. Clappison

The information requested on hostel places for the homeless is not held centrally.

The 1995 housing investment programme returns from London borough in the former LCC area show a total of 13,879 vacant local authority dwellings on 1 April 1995, the latest date for which figures are available. Of these, 6,049 were management vacants—that is, dwellings available for letting immediately or after minor repairs. A report containing the figures for individual borough—"1995 HIP1 All Items Print"—will be placed in the Library shortly.

Information about the extent of rough sleeping is mostly anecdotal or estimated, except for central London where voluntary sector agencies carry out a twice-yearly count of rough sleepers. The methodology for this arose from an independent evaluation of the rough sleepers initiative, commissioned by my Department. The most recent count, in November 1995, found 272 people sleeping rough in central London.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the total numbers of homeless individuals in(a) England, (b) Greater London, (c) outer London and (d) inner London in each year since 1991. [8914]

Mr. Clappison

The number of households for which local authorities accepted responsibility to secure accommodation, under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act, were as follows in the years 1991 to 1995:

Year England Greater London Inner London Outer London
1991 144,780 37,060 21,950 15,110
1992 142,890 37,840 22,630 15,210
1993 132,380 31,890 17,550 14,340
1994 122,660 28,810 16,330 12,480

Note:

1 Covering City of London, Camden, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringy, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Westminster.

Source:

P I E Quarterly returns.