§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people in London were(a) rough sleepers, (b) sleeping in hostels and (c) in homeless accommodation in the last period for which information is available. [163523]
§ Yvette CooperThe latest local authority Housing Investment Programme returns for spring 2003 show that there were 267 rough sleepers in London.
The number of people sleeping in hostels is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, latest information shows that there are around 19,000 hostel bed spaces in London where typically there is 95 per cent. occupancy on any single night.
The latest statutory homelessness statistical returns for December 2003 show that in London there were 57,410 homeless households in all forms of temporary accommodation.