§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress the national Bed and Breakfast Unit has made since 1 October 2001; and whether they consider the target of removing all homeless families with children from bed and breakfast accommodation by March 2004 to be attainable. [HL3700]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe Bed and Breakfast Unit (BBU) has undertaken a national consultation exercise, including a conference, and regional good practice seminars. Examples of good practice have also been identified and shared through a newsletter. Shortly, the first action advice teams will go into authorities to audit procedures for getting people out of B&B. With the Department for Work and Pensions, changes have also been made to housing benefit subsidy arrangement to make leasing self-contained property for homeless households more financially viable.
The commitment to ensure that by March 2004 no homeless family with children is in B&B for more than six weeks was set after extensive consultation. In addition to the changes to housing benefit, worth an estimated £10 million to authorities, we are also providing an additional £35 million this year to help authorities meet the commitment. High B&B using authorities are producing action plans showing how they will reduce numbers and length of stay for homeless families with children in B&B over the next two years to meet the Secretary of State's commitment.
§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many homeless households were in bed and breakfast accommodation at the most recent date. [HL3701]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe number of households accepted by local authorities under statutory homelessness provisions in England and accommodated in bed and breakfast hotels on 31 December 2001 was 12,110.
The Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions recently announced a new commitment to ensure that by March 2004 no family with children will be placed in B&B other than in an emergency. This was accompanied by changes in housing benefit subsidies to make leasing self-contained temporary accommodation more cost-effective and an additional £35 million from DTLR to help local authorities find alternatives to B&B.
§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the annual cost of providing bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless people. [HL3702]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonBased on the latest information supplied by local authorities in England, gross expenditure on bed and breakfast provision in 7WA 2000–01 was £193 million. Net expenditure, after taking into account income arising from charges to clients and housing benefit subsidy, was £74 million.
The Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions recently announced a new commitment to ensure that by March 2004 no family with children will be placed in B&B other than in an emergency. This was accompanied by changes in housing benefit subsidies to make leasing self-contained temporary accommodation more cost-effective and an additional £35 million from DTLR to help local authorities find alternatives to B&B.