Written question asked by Sandra Gidley (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 17 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 October 2002. It was answered by Tony McNulty (Labour) on Thursday, 24 October 2002 on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Question: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement on the progress of the Bed and Breakfast Unit in reducing the number of homeless families with children living in bed and breakfast accommodation.

Answer: Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the progress of the Bed and Breakfast Unit in reducing the number of homeless families with children living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation. [76405] Mr. Tony McNulty: The most recent statistics on statutory homelessness showed that numbers of families with children in B&B at the end of June 2002 remained at around 6,700, the same as the equivalent figure for the end of March 2002. In March 2002 a £35 million programme was launched to help local authorities ensure that by March 2004 no homeless family with children is in a Bed and Breakfast hotel other than in an emergency, and even then for no more than 6 weeks. The Bed and Breakfast Unit has now funded the 44 authorities with the highest number of families with children in B&B to implement Bed and Breakfast Action Plans and will be monitoring progress closely.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 76405; 391 c492W;391 c489-90W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Bed and breakfast accommodation Families Homelessness Homelessness Directorate
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk