To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 2 May 2007, Official Report, column 1693W, if she will commission an independent assessment of Westminster city council’s ability to procure short-term leased temporary accommodation for homeless households within its area before making any further reductions in housing benefit subsidy in 2008-09. (145165)

A questionnaire has been sent to a sample of local authorities seeking information on the use and costs of temporary accommodation. Until we have considered the results of this questionnaire no decision can be made about subsidy arrangements in respect of homeless households in temporary accommodation for 2008-09.

We are continuing to work with the Department for Works and Pensions and the devolved Administrations on our longer term proposals which would separate out reasonable costs for the rent and management of temporary accommodation; we would expect these to take effect from 2009.