§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what initiatives the Government are putting in place in Oxford to tackle rough sleeping. [124395]
§ Ms ArmstrongIn 1999, £621,412 funding under the homelessness action programme was allocated to projects in Oxford for the three years from April 1999. This provided support for co-ordination, outreach and resettlement work and to staff working in hostels for rough sleepers.
In addition, the Department of Health provided £52,500 in 2000–01 under the homeless mentally ill initiative for working with rough sleepers with mental health problems.
We are currently working with all local authorities with a rough sleeping problem to revise their rough sleeping strategies. Following this review process additional homelessness action programme and drug and alcohol specific grant funding may be allocated to support the revised strategies.
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of rough sleepers in the UK are from ethnic minority groups. [124396]
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§ Ms ArmstrongSurveys and research from a wide range of sources consistently find that less than 10 per cent. of rough sleepers in England are from ethnic minority groups, with 90 per cent. or more being White UK or Irish. Tackling rough sleeping and related research in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales is the responsibility of the devolved Administrations.
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of rough sleepers in Oxford in 1999. [124397]
§ Ms ArmstrongA single night street count was carried out in accordance with DETR guidelines in Oxford on 20 October 1999 during which 16 people were found sleeping rough across the city.