Clause 17 - Homelessness reviews
Homes Bill
4:30 pm
Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham, Conservative)
I am sure that I speak on behalf of the Committee when I say that we are well aware of your credentials with regard to animal welfare, Mr. Gale. I am sure that they will not impinge on the matters arising from the clause.
Clause 17 deals with homelessness reviews. We have tabled two amendments and a new clause that is dependent on them which relate specifically to rough sleepers. Amendments Nos. 99 and 100 would specify in the Bill that in conducting homelessness reviews consultation and proposals on homelessness should specifically include rough sleeping. Hence the proposed additions to the beginning of clauses 17 and 18. New clause 19, which is designed partly as a probing amendment, would end the activities of the rough sleepers unit. We would transfer the responsibilities for dealing with rough sleepers to local authorities, because we feel that that is a better way of tackling the problem.
Opposition Members do not believe that the solution for dealing with rough sleepers involves purely setting targets, creating new quangos or appointing yet more tsars—