HC Deb 19 July 1996 vol 281 cc689-90W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what money is made available through his Department for implementing the rough sleepers initiative in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [38566]

Mr. Jonathan Evans

There is not a rough sleepers initiative in Wales on the English model because the scale and distribution of rooflessness here requires a different approach. My Department can assist specific initiatives to tackle rooflessness under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 and we have agreed to support a project in Cardiff. An advisory group on rooflessness, which includes local authorities, voluntary organisations and the police, to help us to consider what further action is required to ensure that nobody in Wales needs to sleep rough, has also been established.