§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many children were made homeless in(a) 1997 and (b) 2001 to date; and what proposals the Government have to counter this problem. [13754]
§ Ms KeebleSummary information on activity under statutory homelessness provisions is reported to the Department by local authorities in England. This includes the number of households accepted under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 and 1996 Housing Acts as being eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and identifies those households containing dependent children.
The latest information is as follows:
Homeless households accepted by local authorities in England 1997 20011 Total households accepted 102,410 59,530 of which containing dependent children 58,780 33,800 Estimated number2 of dependent children 105,000 58,000 1January to June 2 Rounded estimates-precise data are not collected Source:
DTLR Quarterly P1(E) housing activity returns
Families with children who are accepted by a local housing authority as unintentionally homeless are provided with accommodation.
461WUnder the Children Act 1989, social services have a duty to assist any child under 16 who is in need. Monitoring by the rough sleepers unit by outreach workers shows there are very few under 18-year-olds sleeping rough. Children under 16 found on the streets by agencies, including police or homelessness workers, are helped from the streets and referred to social services. The social exclusion unit is currently leading an exercise looking at improving services available to young runaways.
Homeless acceptances represent households in need who are helped by local authorities into accommodation. The provisions of the Homelessness Bill will require housing authorities to take a more strategic, multi-agency approach to the prevention of homelessness and the rehousing of homeless households; ensure that everyone accepted by housing authorities as unintentionally homeless and in priority need must be provided with suitable accommodation until they obtain a settled housing solution; and allow housing authorities greater flexibility to assist non-priority homeless households, principally through a new power for housing authorities to secure accommodation for such households where they have the scope to do so.
To support these provisions, investment in new affordable housing through the Housing Corporation will rise to over £1.2 billion by 2003–04—about double the current level.
The Government are currently developing a national strategic framework to help prevent and tackle homelessness throughout the country.
The Code on Guidance on Allocations and Homelessness will be strengthened to ensure that the health needs of children in temporary accommodation are met.
§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the Government will publish(a) a response to the homelessness consultation, (b) the Vulnerable Groups (Definition) Guidelines, (c) proposals to deal with rogue landlords in the social housing sector, (d) proposals to license houses in multiple occupation, (e) proposals on the future of the Rough Sleepers Unit and (f) new regulations to extend the right to priority temporary social housing to those with an institutionalised background. [13758]
§ Ms KeebleThe Government have recently consulted on proposals for a national strategy to tackle homelessness. A summary of responses will be placed on the DTLR internet site on 7 December. The consultation responses are being considered and the Government will announce their response in due course.
We have consulted on a draft order which would extend the groups of people who have a priority need for housing, under the homelessness legislation. This includes applicants who the local authority are satisfied are vulnerable as a result of an institutionalised background. We are considering the public consultation responses to the order, and will take decisions on implementation shortly. Guidance relating to the priority needs categories will be issued alongside the order.
462WI believe that the hon. Member has in mind our proposals on dealing with unsatisfactory private landlords, rather than landlords in the social sector. We published on 20 October a consultation paper on selective licensing of private landlords.
We aim to publish around the turn of the year details of our legislative proposals on houses in multiple occupation, taking account of the responses to consultation.
The rough sleepers unit has just completed a written consultation exercise on its future role. An announcement on the conclusions will be made in due course.
§ Mr. Clifton-Brown:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent research has been carried out by his Department on the causes of homelessness in relation to (a) violence in the home and (b) drug abuse. [13755]
§ Ms KeebleThis Department has carried out no research recently on the causes of homelessness in relation to violence in the home or drug use.