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Bed-and-Breakfast Accommodation

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many households living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation there were in the first quarter of (a) 1997 and (b) 2001; what plans he has to reduce this number; and what steps he is taking to ensure that this accommodation is of a reasonable standard. [13761]

Ms Keeble: There were 4,100 households in bed-and-breakfast accommodation at the end of the first quarter of 1997 and 10,830 in 2001. Over the next two years the newly established bed-and-breakfast unit will work with partners to reduce the need to place families in B and B. The unit will be hosting a conference on 20 November to consult on targets and actions for reducing B and B use.

Local authorities are required by law to ensure that any accommodation secured for people accepted as statutorily homeless is suitable. In considering whether accommodation is suitable, local authorities will need, among other factors, to have regard to whether it is of a reasonable standard. Statutory guidance issued by my Department also makes it clear that if authorities do have to use bed-and-breakfast accommodation they should ensure that the accommodation meets statutory standards for houses in multiple occupation.

Local Authority Debt

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list those local authorities that are (a) debt free and (b) in debt, indicating their level of debt in (i) June 1997 and (ii) June 2001. [13753]

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Dr. Whitehead: The 106 English local authorities listed have reported that they had debt-free status as at 30 June 2001:




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I am placing in the Library of the House the relevant figures on levels of debt for each local authority in England reported as at 31 March 1997 and 31 March 2001.

Council Housing

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list those housing authorities that have transferred all or part of their housing stock in a large scale voluntary transfer in the last five years, together with the number of units. [13759]

Ms Keeble: The information requested is as follows.

Authority Date of transferNumber of dwellings
Cotswold district council28 February 19974,282
South Staffordshire district council7 March 19975,273
Lichfield district council19 March 19974,921
South Oxfordshire district council7 July 19975,018
Eden district council22 September 19971,510
London borough of Lambeth (Moorlands)5 January 1998515
London borough of Bexley (partial) 9 February 19984,118
London borough of Bexley (partial)9 February 19984,097
Congleton borough council2 March 19984,061
Oldham borough council (Limehurst) 9 March 1998642
Liverpool city council (Windermere) 19 March 1998493
London borough of Merton (Pollards Hill)23 March 19981,018
London borough of Tower Hamlets (Poplar)23 March 19981,852
Kerrier district council 23 March 19983,732
London borough of Hackney (Kingsmead)30 March 1998951
London borough of Brent (Fortunegate/Church End)30 March 19981,481
Basildon district council (Vange)30 March 1998708
West Somerset district council30 March 19981,869
Stoke-on-Trent city council (Bentilee)31 March 1998917
Tewkesbury borough council27 April 19983,066
Rother district council1 May 19983,058
London borough of Lambeth (Lansdowne Green)20 July 1998681
London borough of Tower Hamlets (Poplar II)7 December 19982,431
Wirral metropolitan borough council (Leasowe)25 January 19991,082
Tameside metropolitan borough council (West Ashton)1 February 1999901
West Devon borough council22 February 19991,446
South Somerset district council1 March 19998,883
East Lindsey district council 1 March 19995,102
Liverpool city council (Pinehurst)5 March 1999646
Manchester city council (partial)8 March 19991,030
London borough of Hackney (Morningside)15 March 19991,084
South Hams district council22 March 19993,096
London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (Old Oak)17 March 1999668
London borough of Hackney (Upper Clapton)22 March 19991,000
Telford and Wrekin council25 March 199913,081
London borough of Enfield (partial)29 March 19991,194
Worthing borough council29 March 19992,525
Bath and North East Somerset council29 March 19999,887
Manchester city council (East Wythenshawe)29 March 19996,667
London borough of Greenwich (Charlton Triangle)29 March 19991,280
London borough of Hackney (Haggerston)29 March 1999661
Allerdale borough council (partial transfer)31 March 19993,704
Allerdale borough council (Salterbeck)31 March 1999727
Preston borough council (Avenham)4 June 19991,121
London borough of Lambeth (central Stockwell)5 July 19992,358
Birmingham city council (central areas)21 June 19992,813
London borough of Islington (Barnsbury)26 September 1999647
London borough of Islington (10 estates)26 September 1999739
Liverpool city council (Speke Garston)4 October 19994,382
West Lindsey district council18 October 19993,929
London borough of Lambeth (St. Martins)25 October 19991,033
Boston borough council 29 November 19994,871
Tynedale district council20 December 19993,564
Newcastle under lyme borough council31 January 20009,887
Restormel borough council7 February 20003,577
Manchester city council (Colshaw Farm)14 February 2000600
North Devon district council21 February 20003,293
London borough of Hackney (Stamford Hill) 6 March 20001,095
London borough of Hackney (Pembury Estate)6 March 20001,241
Burnley borough council8 March 20005,330
Manchester city council (Sale estate)20 March 20001,655
Weymouth and Portland council20 March 20003,105
Huntingdon district council20 March 20006,650
Elmbridge borough council27 March 20004,894
Test Valley borough council27 March 20005,495
Wyre Forest district council27 March 20006,056
Manchester city council (Whitefield Estate)27 March 20001,033
London Borough of Tower Hamlets (Tower Hamlets Community Housing)27 March 20001,551
Tameside metropolitan borough council (north)27 March 20008,532
Tameside metropolitan borough council (south)27 March 20007,934
London borough of Richmond17 July 20007,139
Coventry city council22 September 200020,125
Fylde borough council2 October 20001,905
Chester city council27 November 20007,096
Horsham district council11 December 20004,650
London borough of Tower Hamlets (partial)12 February 2001196
East Northamptonshire district council19 February 20013,495
Torbay district council19 February 20012,947
Staffordshire Moorlands district council23 February 20013,132
Calderdale metropolitan borough council6 March 200112,759
Chichester district council13 March 20015,321
Mendip district council19 March 20014,326
West Wiltshire district council26 March 20013,284
West Oxfordshire district council26 March 20013,643
East Staffordshire borough council26 March 20015,637
Manchester city council (Handforth Estate)26 March 2001659
Sunderland city council26 March 200136,356
Blackburn with Darwen borough council28 March 20019,886
Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council1 October 20015,500
Mid-Bedfordshire district council5 November 20013,084
Total number transfers—90
Total number dwellings transferred—359,883

9 Nov 2001 : Column: 467W

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