Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Funding for homelessness services in England is increasing next year by £233 million, taking the total to a record £1 billion. Today, emergency winter pressures funding has been tripled from £10 million to £30 million.
I welcome today’s announcement. Given that young people’s experiences of homelessness differ considerably from those of other age groups across all countries in the UK, will the Minister commit to addressing their needs specifically in the homelessness strategy that is coming up?
My hon. Friend makes a really important point about the impact on children and young people. It is an absolute scandal that nearly 160,000 children are in temporary accommodation, and we are determined to ensure that the Government’s long-term strategy addresses the underlying issues affecting youth homelessness. We are working with mayors, councils and key stakeholders, including in the charitable sector, to get us back on track to ending homelessness.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
St Mungo’s has reported a 27% rise in rough sleeping in London under this Government compared with the same period under the last Government.
Will this Government commit to removing the ringfences that they have introduced around the homelessness prevention grant, heeding councils’ calls to give them back the flexibility they need to get rough sleepers and homeless households into accommodation?
I thank the shadow Minister for his question. The fact is that this Government are investing record amounts of funding to tackle the root causes. That requires action on prevention, and we are working with councils to ensure that we address those underlying causes. We have inherited a mess—record levels of homelessness and rough sleeping—and we are determined to get a grip on it.
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Assessment & feedback
Commitment to remove ringfences around the homelessness prevention grant
Heeding Councils’ Calls
Flexibility They Need
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
One strategy that councils use to address homelessness is to move homeless households elsewhere in the country.
Does the Minister share my concern that Labour-led Rushmoor council is using the standards procedure to attack its own members for bringing this legitimate matter of concern to public attention?
The shadow Minister will be aware that the shortage of housing is driving out-of-area placements. I am very happy to come back to him on his specific example, but the Deputy Prime Minister has written to councils setting out their responsibilities and that out-of-area placements should be a last resort. We will continue to work with councils to support them as they deal with the challenge of the underlying problem, which is the housing shortage and the crisis that has been left behind.
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Assessment & feedback
Commitment to investigate concerns about out-of-area placements by councils
Written To Councils
Responsibilities
Response accuracy