HOMELESSNESS

Early day motion 138, tabled 18 May 2005 by Caroline Spelman (Conservative). Signed by 65 members.

That this House views with alarm the increase in homelessness, which presently stands at 380,000 and is currently at its highest level since 1997; accepts the need for a census of the UK's hidden homeless to be taken in order to determine the true extent of Britain's homelessness problem; expresses great concern that some organisations predict that homelessness could rise to 650,000 by 2010; acknowledges the squalor and degradation experienced by those without a home as well as the physical and psychological trauma associated with homelessness; deplores the Government's failure to maintain the social house-building record of the previous Conservative administration; and calls on the Government to take urgent action to address this growing problem.

Signatures by party: Conservative 61, Liberal Democrat 3, UUP 1.