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Rough Sleepers (London)

Volume 270: debated on Monday 22 January 1996

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To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what emergency provisions were made for rough sleepers in metropolitan areas during the very cold spell over Christmas and the new year; and if he will make a statement. [9972]

Under the Government's rough sleepers initiative, an annual programme of winter shelters provides additional beds for rough sleepers in central London between December and March. The 1995–96 programme is providing 310 beds in seven shelters. Extra emergency beds are opened during particularly cold spells and, so far this winter, up to 125 beds have been made available between 5 and 13 December and between 21 December and 7 January.Extra assistance for rough sleepers during the winter is also provided nationally by local authorities and voluntary sector agencies.