<p>According to the most recent available information from the quarterly P1E homelessness return, 66 families with children were living in bed and breakfast accommodation arranged by the London borough of Barking and Dagenham as at 30 June 2013. Of these, 23 had been accommodated in bed and breakfast accommodation for more than six weeks.</p><p>This Government has strong protections in place to prevent families with children being placed in unsuitable accommodation for unacceptable periods of time.</p><p>The law says that local authorities can only place families with children in bed and breakfast accommodation only as a last resort and then for no more than six weeks.</p><p>We have provided £2 million for seven councils struggling with increasing bed and breakfast use so that they can reduce numbers and develop long lasting solutions to this problem. Barking and Dagenham will receive £300,000 of that funding. This is the first half of funding paid. Barking and Dagenham and the other six councils will be paid the second half of funding only when they achieve a 75% reduction in the numbers of families with children in bed and breakfast for over six weeks. The lessons learned will be shared with other local authorities.</p><p>We are also investing £470 million over four years (2011-12 to 2014/15) to help local authorities and voluntary sector partners prevent and tackle homelessness, rough sleeping and repossessions.</p>