Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Rough Sleepers: Covid-19

Monday 5 October 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Since the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic, nearly 15,000 vulnerable people have been housed in emergency accommodation thanks to local councils and charities.
  • The Next Steps Accommodation programme is being implemented with over 90 million for local authorities.
  • The Government are committed to working hard to end rough sleeping by the end of Parliament.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Angela Richardson
Housing
Context

The MP raised concerns about vulnerable people who are homeless and at risk due to the pandemic.

Question

What steps he is taking to support rough sleepers during the covid-19 outbreak. Nearly 15,000 vulnerable individuals have been housed in emergency accommodation thanks to local councils and charities, saving lives. The next step is through the Next Steps Accommodation programme with £90 million announced for local authorities.

Answer from Kelly Tolhurst

Since the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic, nearly 15,000 vulnerable people have been housed in emergency accommodation thanks to local councils and charities. We are now moving on to the next steps through our Next Steps Accommodation programme with over £90 million for local authorities.

Answered
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Q2 Angela Richardson
Housing
Context

The MP highlighted the successful work of a local official in finding accommodation for a victim of domestic violence, despite challenges.

Question

May I warmly welcome my hon. Friend to her new role on the Front Bench? This Government's commitment to end rough sleeping is clear in extensive funding given to councils over the past year. Will my hon. Friend join me in paying tribute to the commitment of those on the ground in Guildford, who are working tirelessly with central Government to end rough sleeping?

Answer from Kelly Tolhurst

I thank my hon. Friend for highlighting the tremendous work of those in her constituency. I join with her in paying tribute to those, not only in her constituency but across the country, who worked so hard with the Government on ending rough sleeping and delivering a significant programme accommodating nearly 15,000 people during covid-19.

Answered
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Q3 David Linden SNP
Housing
Context

The MP criticised the Government for allowing homelessness to persist and questioned whether they would extend their pandemic actions to address homelessness permanently.

Question

The coronavirus pandemic has shown that homelessness is a choice by the Government, not of those who are homeless. Will this Tory Government choose to permit the existence of homelessness or extend their actions during the pandemic to eradicate the problem once and for all?

Answer from Kelly Tolhurst

The hon. Gentleman knows that this Government are committed to working hard to end rough sleeping by the end of Parliament, shown through significant investment during the pandemic and with the Next Steps Accommodation Programme to support all individuals accommodated during the pandemic.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific timeline or permanent measures to eradicate homelessness

How: Committed To Working Hard

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