To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many homeless people there are in Scotland; and if he will give the numbers by districts and where the statistics are gathered from.

[holding answer 22 July 1991]: Information is collected by the Scottish Office of the numbers of households who apply to local authorities under the homeless persons legislation. Returns are submitted quarterly by the 56 district and islands councils. The latest figures at present available are for 1989–90. An analysis of the numbers of these applicants who were assessed by the local authorities in each area as homeless was given in table 17 of Statistical Bulletin HSG/1991/4. Copies were sent to all Members representing Scottish constituencies and are available in the House Library.Since the publication of the bulletin, a small number of late returns have been received. Revised figures for the authorities concerned are given below.