§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate his Department has made of the number of rough sleepers in(a) London and (b) England for each year since 1997. [177053]
§ Yvette CooperFigures on the number of rough sleepers are not available for 1997. The following table shows the year on year progress made since 1998, when the baseline figure against which the Rough Sleepers Unit's target for reducing rough sleepers was set.
London Rest of England
Total Overall reduction
(percentage)
June 1998 621 1,230 1,851 — June 1999 635 998 1,633 11.8 June 2000 546 634 1,180 36.3 June 2001 357 346 703 62.0 November 2001 264 268 532 71.3 June 2002 321 275 596 67.8 June 2003 267 237 504 72.8 On 3 December 2001, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that the target to reduce rough sleeping by at least two thirds from the baseline estimate had been met. This two-third reduction in rough sleeping has not only been sustained, but has been reduced further.
The Homelessness and Housing Support Directorate within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will continue to work closely with local authorities, voluntary sector agencies and others in sustaining the reduction.