HC Deb 03 November 1997 vol 300 cc66-7W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what measures he is taking to ensure that as few families as possible are forced to live in bed-and-breakfast accommodation; [13730]

(2) what measures he is taking to ensure that as many homeless families as possible are provided with permanent accommodation. [13732]

Mr. Raynsford

The Government are committed to placing a new duty on local authorities to protect those who are homeless through no fault of their own and are in priority need.

As soon as possible after being elected to office, we made regulations which require local housing authorities to give reasonable preference in the allocation of social housing to people who are being accommodated temporarily—or who have recently been assisted to secure accommodation themselves—by the authority under the homelessness legislation. These regulations (SI 1997 No 1902, made under Part VI of the Housing Act 1996) come into force on 1 November and restore the link between homelessness and the allocation of long-term settled accommodation.

Moreover, as the Chancellor announced in the Budget, under the Capital Finance Initiative, £784 million will be made available in support of additional capital spending on housing needs in England in 1997–98 and 1998–99.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he is taking to ensure that bed-and-breakfast accommodation for homeless families is clean, safe and comfortable. [13731]

Mr. Raynsford

The Government encourage local housing authorities to explore all alternatives before resorting to bed-and-breakfast establishments to provide temporary accommodation for homeless families. The Code of Guidance on parts VI and VII of the Housing Act 1996, to which authorities must have regard by law, states that authorities should ensure that bed-and-breakfast accommodation meets the statutory requirements on standards for houses in multiple occupation.

We are determined to improve standards in houses in multiple occupation. We are preparing a new Code of Practice which will take account of the findings of research into fire risks in houses of multiple occupation which were published by my Department on 30 October. We are also committed to introducing a national licensing system for houses in multiple occupation.