§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals his Department has for the development of foyer schemes; and if he will make a statement. [9177]
§ Mr. RaynsfordFoyer schemes are one of a range of solutions to help homeless and unemployed young people. There are already a large number of such schemes in operation with more in development or being planned. Large sums of public money have already been invested in foyer schemes through, for example, capital and revenue grants payable by the Housing Corporation. Further schemes may qualify for support and for additional resources released under the capital receipts initiative. It will be for prospective foyer developers and individual local authorities to identify local needs and priorities when considering the case for a foyer scheme.
In addition, my Department and the Department for Education and Employment have jointly commissioned research from the Institute for Employment Studies and London Research Centre to look at the number and distribution of foyer and foyer type schemes and their effectiveness in meeting the accommodation and training needs of young people.