§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what statutory powers local authorities possess to(a) refuse housing to, (b) refuse services to and (c) return to their place of origin rough sleepers and homeless people. [68663]
§ Mr. McNultyAuthorities cannot refuse to secure accommodation or provide advice and assistance, as appropriate, to applicants where this is required as a result of a specific duty being owed to them under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996. Rough sleepers or homeless people who apply to a housing authority for accommodation or advice and assistance must be treated in the same way as all other applicants.
Authorities do not have a power to return homeless people or rough sleepers to another area, but where an authority decide that an applicant is owed the main homelessness duty and (a) he or she does not have a local connection with the area of the authority and (b) does have one with the area of another authority, the case may be referred to that other authority.