asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what information he has about the number of London boroughs in which a differential rents scheme is in operation; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of houses made available to homeless families by means of such schemes.

Sixteen of the Metropolitan borough councils have differential rent schemes of one kind or another. As to the second part of the Question, although it is impossible to make such an estimate, the accommodation released could be appreciable.