§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State what progress has been made on achieving the Government's objective that no child should be living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation by 2004; and if he will make a statement. [65993]
§ Mr. McNultyIn March 2002 a £35 million programme was launched to help local authorities ensure that by March 2004 no homeless family with children is in bed-and-breakfast hotels (B&B) other than in an emergency, and even then for no more than six weeks.
The 44 authorities with the highest number of families with children in B&B were required to submit bed-and-breakfast action plans showing how they will meet the March 2004 commitment. On 17 June £25 million was allocated to these authorities to help them implement their B&B plans. We will now be working with the next 40 highest using authorities to see how we can help them reduce B&B numbers. We will be monitoring closely the progress of all authorities.
All local authorities will benefit from recent changes to housing benefit subsidy levels, worth up to £10 million. which provide an incentive to lease private sector homes as a better quality alternative to B&B hotels. Authorities have also been sent a 10–point check list of good practice outlining the key 'building blocks' we expect every authority to have in place to deliver reductions in B&B hotel use. Regional B&B 'Good Practice' seminars have been held and examples of good practice have been shared through a newsletter and are posted on the ODPM website.