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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration, if any, they have given to using the former RAF Sealand station to accommodate homeless people and others in need of temporary housing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We do not currently have any specific plans to use RAF Sealand to accommodate homeless people during the Covid-19 pandemic but we are exploring all options, working closely with colleagues across Government, including the Ministry of Defence.

Over 90% of those on the streets and in communal night shelters known to local authorities at the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis have now been made offers of safe accommodation – ensuring some of the most vulnerable in society are protected from the pandemic.

Councils across England will receive another £1.6 billion in additional funding as they continue to respond to the Coronavirus pandemic. With this funding councils can provide support to those who need it most. This takes the total funding to support councils to respond to the pandemic to over £3.2 billion. This is in addition to £3.2 million in targeted funding to ensure that we minimise the risk to those currently unable to self-isolate.

In addition, we have been working with the Greater London Authority and a number of hotel chains across the country to secure accommodation for rough sleepers and we have now introduced a centrally coordinated process across Government for block booking hotels.