A

Bill

To

Make provision for minimum standards in respect of accommodation for

young people leaving care; to impose a duty on local authorities to ensure that

such standards are met; and for connected purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and

consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present

Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1       

Provision of suitable accommodation for young people leaving care to live

independently or semi-independently

(1)   

It shall be the duty of every local authority to ensure that accommodation for

young people leaving care to live independently or semi-independently meets

minimum standards set by the Secretary of State.

(2)   

The Secretary of State shall by regulations establish minimum standards for

such accommodation in respect of—

(a)   

health and safety;

(b)   

habitability;

(c)   

location and accessibility;

(d)   

availability of services and furnishing;

(e)   

security of accommodation; and

(f)   

meeting the young person’s assessed needs.

(3)   

Regulations under subsection (2) shall be made by statutory instrument and

shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of

Parliament.

(4)   

The Secretary of State must lay those regulations before Parliament within 12

months of the day on which this Act is passed.

2       

Expenses

There shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament—

(a)   

any expenditure incurred under or by virtue of this Act by the Secretary of

State, and

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(b)   

any increase attributable to this Act in the sums payable under any other Act

out of money so provided.

3       

Short title and extent

(1)   

This Act may be cited as the Young People Leaving Care (Accommodation) Act

2009.

(2)   

This Act extends to England and Wales.