HC Deb 09 February 1998 vol 306 c13W
Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is the total number of registered homeless people in the Southampton City Council area; [27555]

(2) how many people have been accepted on to the homeless register of Southampton City Council in each of the last five years. [27554]

Year Homelessness acceptances
1992 474
1993 442
1994 579
1995 584
1996 538
19971 398
1 data for the first 3 quarters only.

Under Part VI of the Housing Act 1996, authorities must establish and maintain a housing register for the purpose of allocating their housing accommodation but there is no statutory obligation for local housing authorities to hold a register of homeless applicants. Accommodation secured as a discharge of a homelessness duty need not be a tenancy allocated under part VI of the 1996 Act.