Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of placing children in temporary accommodation that is deemed unsuitable on the health outcomes of those children.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government is clear that local authorities must ensure temporary accommodation is suitable in relation to the applicant and to all members of their household who normally reside with them, or who might reasonably be expected to reside with them. In particular this means that accommodation must be suitable for any minors. Applicants may request a review of the housing authority's decision that the accommodation offered to them is suitable.
We have committed to providing over £650 million to councils in England over the next two years through the Homelessness Prevention Grant. This is part of the £2 billion the government is spending to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the next three years, including in rural communities, to tackle youth homelessness and to reduce the number of families in temporary accommodation.
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of expertise available within local authorities in rural areas on providing advice and access to homelessness services.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government is clear that local authorities must ensure temporary accommodation is suitable in relation to the applicant and to all members of their household who normally reside with them, or who might reasonably be expected to reside with them. In particular this means that accommodation must be suitable for any minors. Applicants may request a review of the housing authority's decision that the accommodation offered to them is suitable.
We have committed to providing over £650 million to councils in England over the next two years through the Homelessness Prevention Grant. This is part of the £2 billion the government is spending to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the next three years, including in rural communities, to tackle youth homelessness and to reduce the number of families in temporary accommodation.
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department has made of the structural causes of youth homelessness.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government is clear that local authorities must ensure temporary accommodation is suitable in relation to the applicant and to all members of their household who normally reside with them, or who might reasonably be expected to reside with them. In particular this means that accommodation must be suitable for any minors. Applicants may request a review of the housing authority's decision that the accommodation offered to them is suitable.
We have committed to providing over £650 million to councils in England over the next two years through the Homelessness Prevention Grant. This is part of the £2 billion the government is spending to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the next three years, including in rural communities, to tackle youth homelessness and to reduce the number of families in temporary accommodation.
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department will take to tackle youth homelessness.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government is clear that local authorities must ensure temporary accommodation is suitable in relation to the applicant and to all members of their household who normally reside with them, or who might reasonably be expected to reside with them. In particular this means that accommodation must be suitable for any minors. Applicants may request a review of the housing authority's decision that the accommodation offered to them is suitable.
We have committed to providing over £650 million to councils in England over the next two years through the Homelessness Prevention Grant. This is part of the £2 billion the government is spending to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the next three years, including in rural communities, to tackle youth homelessness and to reduce the number of families in temporary accommodation.
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of Ukrainian households admitted under the Homes for Ukraine scheme at risk of homelessness in each of the next two years.
Answered by Felicity Buchan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
We want to avoid households becoming homeless wherever possible. Local authorities provide a statutory safety net Ukrainian households can access if they need help.
Government is monitoring the number of Ukrainian households seeking homelessness assistance through our management information, which is published monthly on gov.uk here.
To help prevent homelessness, we have announced £150 million for councils across the UK, as well as a £500 million Local Authority Housing Fund in England to help house Ukrainians. This is on top of the £2 billion in funding Government is spending over three years to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in England.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, further to the Answer of 9 March 2023 to Question 156308 on Bed and Breakfast Accommodation: Children, whether his Department issues guidance to local authorities on reducing the number of households with dependent children in temporary bed and breakfast accommodation for longer than six weeks; and what steps his Department is taking, through its continuing work with local authorities, to tackle this issue.
Answered by Felicity Buchan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure temporary accommodation is suitable for all members of an applicant’s household. Consideration of whether accommodation is suitable will require an assessment of all aspects of the accommodation in the light of the relevant needs, requirements and circumstances of the household. This includes any requirements to meet the needs of a person who is disabled or has specific medical needs.
We do not hold data relating to schools and temporary accommodation. Where possible, housing authorities should try to secure accommodation that is as close as possible to where an applicant was previously living. Where an out-of-borough placement is necessary, the authority should seek to retain established links, including education, wherever possible.
As set out in legislation and Chapter 16 of the Homelessness Code of Guidance, the Government has been clear that the long-term use of bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation for families with children is inappropriate and unlawful. We will continue to work with local authorities to limit the use of B&B accommodation.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing support to Ukrainian refugees to move into the private rented sector at the end of a Homes for Ukraine scheme placement.
Answered by Felicity Buchan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 148806 on 23 February 2023.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an estimate of the number of homeless children required to move schools as a result of moving to temporary accommodation in each of the past 12 months.
Answered by Felicity Buchan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure temporary accommodation is suitable for all members of an applicant’s household. Consideration of whether accommodation is suitable will require an assessment of all aspects of the accommodation in the light of the relevant needs, requirements and circumstances of the household. This includes any requirements to meet the needs of a person who is disabled or has specific medical needs.
We do not hold data relating to schools and temporary accommodation. Where possible, housing authorities should try to secure accommodation that is as close as possible to where an applicant was previously living. Where an out-of-borough placement is necessary, the authority should seek to retain established links, including education, wherever possible.
As set out in legislation and Chapter 16 of the Homelessness Code of Guidance, the Government has been clear that the long-term use of bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation for families with children is inappropriate and unlawful. We will continue to work with local authorities to limit the use of B&B accommodation.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the availability of suitable temporary accommodation for disabled homeless people.
Answered by Felicity Buchan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure temporary accommodation is suitable for all members of an applicant’s household. Consideration of whether accommodation is suitable will require an assessment of all aspects of the accommodation in the light of the relevant needs, requirements and circumstances of the household. This includes any requirements to meet the needs of a person who is disabled or has specific medical needs.
We do not hold data relating to schools and temporary accommodation. Where possible, housing authorities should try to secure accommodation that is as close as possible to where an applicant was previously living. Where an out-of-borough placement is necessary, the authority should seek to retain established links, including education, wherever possible.
As set out in legislation and Chapter 16 of the Homelessness Code of Guidance, the Government has been clear that the long-term use of bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation for families with children is inappropriate and unlawful. We will continue to work with local authorities to limit the use of B&B accommodation.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an estimate of the number of disabled people who have been served section 21 eviction notices in the last 12 months.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The information is not held centrally.