Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to prepare the homeless population for the winter months.

We recognise the challenges that the cold weather poses for those who are sleeping rough. Last month, we launched a second year of the Cold Weather Fund, doubling its funding. This £10 million fund will be available to all local authorities in England to provide a robust, local response to support as many rough sleepers as possible off the streets during the winter period.

In periods of severe weather, Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP) is triggered and local authorities work closely with charities to provide basic emergency accommodation to minimise the risk of harm to individuals who are sleeping rough when the temperature drops. Many local authorities will already make sure warm places to stay are available throughout the winter, not just during times when SWEP is in force.