Written question asked by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Thursday, 24 January 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 February 2002. It was answered by Sally Keeble (Labour) on Monday, 4 February 2002 on behalf of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

Dept for Transport Local Government and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what entitlement there is to social housing for British citizens leaving Zimbabwe because of the internal situation in that country.

Answer: Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what entitlement there is to social housing for British citizens leaving Zimbabwe because of the internal situation in that country. [31192] Ms Keeble: British citizens returning to the UK from overseas have the same entitlement to local authority housing as citizens already resident provided they are habitually resident in the Common Travel Area (CTA), that is, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Unless resuming a previous period of habitual residence within the CTA, they would need to demonstrate, among other things, that their future centre of interest lay in the UK in order to establish habitual residence. Some local housing authorities currently set additional qualifying criteria. British citizens returning to the UK from overseas are entitled to apply for social housing held by other registered social landlords (housing associations). They are also eligible to seek assistance from social services authorities under the National Assistance Act 1948 or the Children Act 1989, if necessary.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 31192; 379 c734-5W;379 c731W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: British nationality Eligibility Politics and government Overseas residence Social rented housing Zimbabwe Emigration
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk