Clause 23 - Abolition of duty under section 197
Homes Bill
4:45 pm
Mr Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham, Conservative)
I see, we are back to old Labour now.
The clause deals with section 197 of the Housing Act 1996. It effectively repeals the local authority's duty not to secure accommodation, but to provide an applicant
``with such advice and assistance as the authority consider is reasonably required''
to enable him to secure ``other suitable accommodation'' in the district. That provision will be replaced by a general duty to secure accommodation if nothing else suitable is available.
Shelter has expressed concern that the existing legislation has led to a wide variation in the standards and levels of advice and assistance provided by local authorities. It is very poor in places with applicants sent away with little more than a list of bed-and-breakfast locations. Shelter says:
``the quality of advice and assistance is not necessarily dependent on the amount of stock available and there are numerous examples of good practice achieved in areas of high demand.
Likewise, there are authorities where, despite low housing demand, the level of assistance provided is poor.''
I share Shelter's hope for a more uniform and uplifted level of service for homeless people across the country.
How does the change in duties tally with the strategic multi-agency approach—according to the Government, the rationale for part II—particularly if other agencies within the strategic partnerships have access to accommodation? How does the new measure tally with the enhanced strategic advisory role that we debated in our proceedings this morning? How does it tally with efforts to reduce empty homes more logically and undogmatically? How does it work in districts where there is no local authority housing? Surely the key is to secure suitable housing for homeless, or potentially homeless people by whatever means possible. Might the measure not restrict that? Perhaps the old Minister would comment on some of those concerns.