§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to use government buildings other than Admiralty Arch and buildings available for use by members of the Government to house the homeless during the Christmas period. [16159]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Government have a Winter Shelter Programme as part of the Rough Sleepers Initiative. This year the Winter Shelter Programme covers London, Bristol and Cambridge. Each year both the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the voluntary agencies work closely with the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (PACE), and other Government Departments, to identify suitable buildings from the Government estate for use as winter shelters for rough sleepers. It is particularly important to locate suitable buildings which will ensure a wide geographical spread of winter shelters.
We are currently assessing the bids we have received from the voluntary sector for funding to manage winter shelters as part of the Rough Sleepers Initiative and will make an announcement shortly on the bids which have been successful.