To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the official homelessness statistics for Scotland for each year since 1979.
Statistics of households who applied to Scottish local authorities under the homeless persons legislation for the years 1978–79 to 1989–90 were published in table 15 of statistical bulletin HSG/1991/4, "Housing Trends in Scotland—Quarter ended 31 December 1990". Copies were sent to all Members representing Scottish constituencies and are available in the House Library. Since then a small number of late returns have been received for 1988–89 and 1989–90. Revised figures for these years are given below. Returns for 1990–91 are now being received, and will be published in due course.
| Applicant households under the homeless persons legislation by local authority assessment and year, Scotland | ||
| Local authority assessment | 1988–89 | 1989–901 |
| Total applicants | 24,711 | 28,501 |
| Homeless | 9,630 | 11,203 |
| priority unintentional | 6,718 | 7,934 |
| priority intentional | 727 | 878 |
| non priority | 2,185 | 2,391 |
| Potentially homeless | 6,122 | 6,661 |
| priority unintentional | 4,146 | 4,664 |
| priority intentional | 416 | 482 |
| non priority | 1,560 | 1,515 |
| Neither homeless nor potentially homeless | 2,464 | 2,960 |
| Lost contact | 6,495 | 7,677 |
| 1 Some 2,000 returns, mostly from Glasgow, are estimated to remain outstanding. | ||
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Glasgow Council for the Single Homeless and the Richmond Fellowship on homelessness among discharged psychiatric patients; and if he will make a statement.
We have received no such representations from these bodies.It is Government policy, however, that patients should not be discharged from hospital until their needs have been assessed and proper arrangements made for their care in the community.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the young housing monitoring group on homelessness among young people; and if he will make a statement.
I recently received from Edinburgh Council for the Single Homeless a copy of the group's report, "Still in Demand", which presents information gathered by 20 housing agencies in Edinburgh from 274 people in the 16 to 24 age group who came to them in September 1990 seeking accommodation. I have read the report with interest. My reply to the council drew attention to the additional capital allocation of £0·75 million which we have made available to Edinburgh district council in 1991–92 for projects to combat homelessness, which should help the young people who are the subject of the report.