§ Mr. Gerald HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people classified as homeless there were in(a) 1970, (b) 1980 and (c) 1999; and how many came from (i) intact families, and (ii) broken families. [120676]
§ Mr. MullinData on homelessness activity reported by local authorities in England include the number of households accepted as homeless and in priority need 107W under the homelessness provisions of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977, and subsequent legislation. 57,850 such households were accepted in 1980 and 104,770 in 1999. These figures are not comparable because of legislative changes since 1977.
Local authority homelessness responsibilities under earlier legislation were significantly more limited, and data for 1970 are not available.
Information is also reported about the main reasons for loss of the household's last settled home, including "Breakdown of relationship with partner". In 1980 this accounted for around 20 per cent. of all cases, and 24 per cent. in 1999.