§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the numbers of homeless households in bed-and-breakfast accommodation. [68660]
§ Mr. McNultyThe latest figures indicate that there are nearly 12,000 households in bed-and-breakfast hotels (B&B) of which a estimated 6,500 are families with children.
In March this year, a £35 million programme was launched to help local authorities ensure that by March 2004 no homeless family with children are in B&B other than in an emergency, and even then for no more than six weeks. On 17 June £25 million was allocated to the 42 local authorities with the highest number of families with children in B&B hotels to help them meet the March 2004 commitment. We will now be working with the next 40 highest using authorities to see how we can help them reduce B&B hotel numbers.
Thousands Government office region Financial year North East North West Yorkshire and the Humber East Midlands West Midlands East London South East South West England 1997–98 7.6 19.2 15.5 14.6 13.4 21.3 13.6 25.4 19.0 149.6 1998–99 6.7 19.0 13.1 14.7 14.0 19.9 12.9 23.3 15.9 138.6 1999–2000 7.4 18.9 13.4 16.4 15.3 18.7 12.5 23.2 15.9 141.8 2000–01 6.8 19.7 13.4 13.6 13.9 16.2 14.2 22.0 15.0 134.7 2001–021 6.3 16.7 13.1 13.9 13.3 15.5 13.8 21.8 15.4 129.9 1Provisional