HC Deb 21 March 2002 vol 382 cc492-4W
Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many households there were in bed and breakfast accommodation arranged by local authorities under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 and 1996 Housing Acts, for each English region and for Wales, in the first quarter of 1997 and the last quarter of 2001. [44986]

Mr. Byers

Information reported by local authorities in England on the number of households accommodated in bed and breakfast hotels under statutory homelessness provisions on 31 March 1997 and 31 December 2001 is presented.

National information on the number of households in various types of temporary accommodation, including bed and breakfast, is provided in a quarterly Statistical Release published by the Department; corresponding information at local authority and regional level is set out in associated Supplementary Tables. Copies covering recent quarters are available in the Library, and also via the Department's website. The latest editions, published on 14 March, present statistics up to the end of December 2001.

I 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.

Homeless households resident in bed and breakfast accommodation 1
As at 31 March 1997 As at 31 December 2001
North East 80 60
North West 150 120
Yorkshire 60 210
East Midland 40 80
West Midland 60 230
Eastern 90 460
London 2,830 8,700
South East 550 1,270
South West 230 990
England 4,100 12,110
1 Includes households accommodated pending completion of initial inquiries by the local authority, and a small number of households found to be intentionally homeless for whom accommodation has been provided for a limited period.

Source:

DTLR P1(E) housing activity return (quarterly)

For corresponding information about Welsh authorities, I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Chris Ruane

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the average cost of placing a family in bed and breakfast accommodation is; and what the total cost was in each of the last 10 years. [44714]

Ms Keeble

Information reported to the Department by local authorities about expenditure on accommodation provided under homelessness legislation does not identify average unit costs. Latest available information is published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) in their report "Homelessness Statistics 1999–2000 Actuals". Based on information supplied by local authorities in England, the average gross weekly charge (before deduction of any rent rebate) per B&B unit during 1999–2000 was £276.92.

Total estimated expenditure by local authorities in each of the past 10 years, based on information supplied to CIPFA, was as follows:

Local authority expenditure on bed and breakfast provision: England
Gross Net
1990–91 135,695,391 80,624,379
1991–92 144,496,027 73,219,805
1992–93 117,012,354 49,095,854
1993–94 65,675,858 21,233,760
1994–95 50,691,885 16,573,119
1995–96 55,775,348 19,592,951
1996–97 51,190,208 17,483,026
1997–98 56,689,680 24,075,766
1998–99 117,837,868 53,840,470
1999–2000 151,651,900 70,804,741
2000–01 1— 1—
1 Not yet available

Notes:

1. B&B accommodation includes privately owned or managed hotels/guest houses with some shared facilities, but excludes hotel annexes of self-contained accommodation where meals are not provided.

2. Expenditure excludes any apportionment of central or departmental administration.

3. Net expenditure takes into account income arising from charges to clients, and housing benefit subsidy.

Source:

Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Homelessness Statistics—"Actuals" annual reports

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State 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.