Clause 16 - Duty of local housing authority to formulate a homelessness strategy
Homes Bill
2:30 pm
Mr Nick Raynsford (Minister of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions; Greenwich and Woolwich, Labour)
I have accepted openly that the homeless figures are too high and that there has been an increase in recent months, but the impression that the hon. Gentleman has tried to give—that there has been an increase since Labour came to power—is wrong. Since we came to office, the overall number of homeless acceptances remains below the level that we inherited. It is far too high—I do not make any pretence about that—and I want to get it down. But the figure when the Conservative party was last in office was 110,800, which is higher than the current level of homelessness. For the hon. Member for Eastbourne to pretend otherwise is not an honourable approach.