§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many homeless applicants were(a) rehoused by the local authority directly without spending time in temporary accommodation and (b) placed in temporary accommodation under section 193 of the Housing Act 1996 in each of the last three years; [133484]
(2) how many homeless applicants were considered to have a priority need under section 189 (1) (c) of the Housing Act 1996 due to (a) domestic violence and (b) racial harassment and violence in each of the last three years; [133485]
(3) how many applicants were accepted as homeless by local authorities under section 175 (3) of the Housing Act 1996 due to racial harassment or violence, in each of the last three years. [133486]
§ Mr. MullinData are not collected centrally in the precise form requested. Available information on households accommodated under statutory homelessness provisions in England is published in a quarterly Information Bulletin, "Statistics of local authority activities under the homelessness legislation: England". Table 3 of the Bulletin presents a summary of those households accepted as unintentionally homeless and in priority need under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 and 1996 Housing Acts, identifying which category was most crucial in determining priority need. Cases where domestic violence was the exclusive reason are identified separately, but further cases may also exist where, for example, the presence of dependent children was the crucial determining factor. Table 4 further summarises acceptances by reason for loss of the household's last settled home and the category "Violent breakdown of relationship" will include all instances where domestic violence was the cause of homelessness. In both tables, cases involving racial harassment or violence are not separately distinguished, but would be reported under "Other".
Tables 5 and 6 show the number of accepted households in accommodation arranged by the local authority, as at the end of each quarter. Information on the number of households directly rehoused by authorities, without first going into accommodation secured for the minimum two-year period, is not collected.
Copies of the Bulletin are held in the Library and the latest edition, published on 16 June, presents statistics up to and including the first quarter of 2000.
§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 7 July 2000,Official Report, columns 312–13W, (1) what plans he has to introduce arrangements to monitor reviews of homelessness decisions made by local authorities under sections 202 and 203 of the Housing Act 1996; and if he will make a statement; [133464]
936W(2) what proposals he has to require local authorities to make available written information on procedures for reviewing homelessness decisions under sections 202 and 203 of the Housing Act 1996; and if he will make a statement. [133487]
§ Mr. MullinI refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 7 July 2000,Official Report, columns 312–13W. The Housing Green Paper, "Quality and Choice; A decent home for all", sets out the Government's proposals for reform of homelessness legislation. As part of these proposals we will consider the introduction of arrangements to monitor reviews of homelessness decisions made by local authorities, and will consider responses to the Green Paper before deciding whether to develop this further. We would wish to discuss any such proposals with representatives of local government, Shelter and others before taking them forward.
§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the extent to which local authorities have had regard to the provisions of the code of guidance on parts VI and VII of the Housing Act 1996 in relation to finding the following groups to be vulnerable and in priority need under section 189 (1)(c) of the Housing Act 1996 (a) victims of violence and abuse and racial harassment and violence, (b) people with mental health problems, (c) 16 and 17-year-olds and (d) people leaving care; [133481]
(2) what assessment he has made of the extent to which local authorities have had regard to the provisions of the Code of Guidance on Parts VI and VII of the Housing Act 1996 in relation to whether it is reasonable for victims of violence and racial abuse and racial harassment to continue to occupy accommodation under sections 175 and 177 of the Housing Act 1996. [133483]
§ Mr. MullinIn exercising their functions under Parts VI and Part VII of the Housing Act 1996, local authorities must have regard to the guidance issued by the Secretary of State under sections 169 and 182 of the 1996 Act.
The Department has commissioned research on local authority policy and practice on allocations, transfers and homelessness. The research will provide information on how local authorities apply the homelessness legislation, and look at definitions of the vulnerability dimension of priority need. This will include victims of violence and abuse; racial harassment; people with mental health problems; 16 and 17-year-olds and people leaving care. The research will also look at outcomes of allocation schemes for different groups such as homeless acceptances.