asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the number of people in England who are homeless; and how many are in families with children, married couples and single people, respectively.

During the second half of 1984 the total number of households who, after due inquiry, were found by local authorities to be homeless amounted to some 65,000, of whom about two thirds had accommodation secured for them. My Department does not collect information on the size or marital status of these households.