Homelessness: Rough Sleepers in London

Lord Laming Excerpts

Tuesday 30th October 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hanham]

My Lords, the mayor’s No Second Night Out scheme is being very effective. There are more than 2,000 hostel places in London each night and there are teams out consistently during the night. We anticipate that 80% of those who sleep out one night do not sleep out the next night.

[Lord Laming]

My Lords, the Minister will be aware of the statistics relating to the number of children and young people who run away from home each year, particularly young people who are in the care of local authorities. These young people often sleep rough and are in considerable danger. Will the Minister say what steps the Government are taking to pay particular attention to safeguarding these young children?

[Baroness Hanham]

My Lords, no one will know better than the noble Lord that local authorities have a particular responsibility for young people, particularly those under 16. At present, there is little evidence of children under 16 sleeping rough. If they do, it is for a very short time because local authorities and the leading young people’s homelessness charities, such as Centrepoint, take them in very quickly. I think 18 to 25 year-olds are more of a problem. They seem to sleep rough for a number of reasons, but I think I can reassure the noble Lord that there is very swift action if anybody under 16, certainly from the categories he knows about, is left out on the street for any length of time.