§ Ms KellyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with 69W homelessness charities on the issue of assisting homeless ex-servicemen; and what was the outcome of these discussions. [142035]
§ Mr. SpellarThe primary focus for work to reduce the incidence of rough sleeping among ex-service personnel is a Working Group of officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Rough Sleepers Unit at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. Steps taken by the Working Group include, as a pilot project, the launch of the "Single Persons Accommodation Centre for the Ex-Services" (SPACES) at Catterick garrison. This is run by the English Churches Housing Group, and provides accommodation advice to service personnel who are about to be discharged from the armed forces.
In addition, the Ministry of Defence has regular discussions with the "Ex-Service Action Group on Homelessness", chaired by the Chief Executive of the Sir Edward Stoll Foundation. It has been involved in discussions with the homeless charity "Crisis", both prior to and subsequent to publication of their report "Lest We Forget".
The Ministry of Defence values all such discussions and is taking action on a number of the recommendations made in the report, where work was not already in hand.