Rough Sleeping and Homelessness 2024-03-04
2024-03-04
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP noted the record high of 142,000 children living in temporary accommodation and highlighted the government's failure to meet their manifesto commitment to end rough sleeping by 2024.
There are 142,000 children living in temporary accommodation—a record high that is costly to taxpayers, but devastating to the lives of children and families—and the Government's own data shows that they have utterly failed on their 2019 manifesto commitment to end rough sleeping by 2024. Is she happy for children and families to be paying the price for Tory failure on housing?
This Government have made a concerted effort to tackle homelessness and eliminate rough sleeping. The last autumn statement contained a series of measures, including an additional £450 million for the local authority housing fund—taking that to £1.2 billion—to improve temporary accommodation quality.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific ask about contentment with situation was not addressed directly
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP highlighted the rise in rough sleepers by 27% over the past year and requested more investment to ensure Housing First is introduced across the country.
I thank my hon. Friend for that answer, but the number of people in temporary accommodation has risen by 10% over the past year, and the number of rough sleepers has risen by 27%. Can we ensure that Housing First is introduced across the country and more investment is made?
We have invested £42 million in Housing First pilots, and we are investing a further £30 million through the rough sleeping initiative. The Act has supported 708,000 families to prevent homelessness.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific ask about additional investment was not directly addressed
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP questioned the effectiveness of the housing fund to reduce families in temporary accommodation.
What conversations has the Minister had with colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions and the Treasury about raising the cap on the housing benefit subsidy?
As the hon. Lady will understand, I cannot talk about any discussions that we may have had with the Treasury, but clearly the Budget is on Wednesday.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific ask about raising housing benefit cap was not addressed directly
Response accuracy
Q4
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP highlighted an issue with Southend-on-Sea City Council receiving placement notifications from other local authorities.
Southend has an abundance of accommodation that is deemed inexpensive by local authorities, and our city is picking up the tab. Under section 208 of the Housing Act 1996, all local authorities should give prior notice when placing people for homelessness within 14 days. Will my hon. Friend assist me in dealing with this issue?
My hon. Friend is absolutely correct: if a local authority places people into temporary accommodation outside the borough, it should notify the relevant local authority.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP inquired about conversations with the Department for Work and Pensions regarding raising the cap on housing benefit subsidy.
What conversations has the Minister had with colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions and the Treasury about raising the cap on the housing benefit subsidy?
As the hon. Lady will understand, I cannot talk about any discussions that we may have had with the Treasury.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific ask about raising housing benefit cap was not addressed directly
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP criticized the government's failure to meet their promise on ending section 21 evictions.
Four years have passed since the Government first promised to end section 21 evictions, and now 70,000 children are coming home from school each night to sleep in temporary accommodation. So I ask the Minister how many more children must face eviction before she meets the promise?
We are absolutely committed to repealing section 21—there is no question about that. We have a very holistic approach: building more housing, building more affordable homes.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific ask on meeting the promise was not directly addressed
Response accuracy