§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will intervene in respect of Castle Point Borough Council to ensure that the local homelessness problem is tackled. [73307]
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Office of Deputy Prime Minister Full Time Equivalent Location Core Department1 1,856 London, South East, Midlands and the Government Offices 2,360 English Regions which consists of: East of England—CambridgeEast Midlands—Nottingham London North East—Newcastle-upon-Tyne
§ Mr. Tony McNultyThe Homelessness Directorate within my Department has recently been set up to ensure that homelessness is tackled effectively and officials will be working closely with local authorities to assist them in the development of their homelessness strategies over the coming year.
Latest figures for the first quarter of 2002–03 indicate that on average 0.1 households per 1,000 in Castle Point are accepted as being in priority need for accommodation. The area currently has around 20 families with children in B and B accommodation.
Officials from the Homelessness Directorate have discussed with the authority how this number can be reduced and have encouraged Castle Point to put in a bid for a share of the £10 million available to local authorities to support their homelessness strategy. These resources will be additional to Castle Point's share of the £8 million the Government has already allocated through Revenue Support Grant to implement the Homelessness Act. Castle Point will also receive a share of £10 million which is about to be allocated to local authorities to assist in the implementation of the Priority Need Order. The Directorate will be monitoring the Authority's progress closely.