UK Parliament / Open data

Rough Sleeping

Proceeding contribution from Neil Coyle (Labour) in the House of Commons on Thursday, 7 February 2019. It occurred during Backbench debate on Rough Sleeping.

We are keeping up the trend, because I completely agree. People who have very little and who use certain mobile networks cannot call freephone numbers from their mobile phone, let alone use their phone to go online and fill in a form that they have to add extra information to multiple times, just to get it right.

Returning to Harry, who came to see me about his universal credit, he had no heating, electricity or food. He was told just to turn up at the council office. The council has not had a walk-in appointments system for years, yet the universal credit training centre in my constituency sent someone there, who they knew would not get help elsewhere.

There are massive failings. In my surgery sessions I have seen many people, and the number rises every year. Already this year, two homeless people—not just at risk of homelessness—have come to see me at my surgery. One lady, who is cleaner, was carrying all her belongings with her. She was still working and was sleeping on night buses. We are fortunate to have those—it is not the same in other parts of the country, where there is no opportunity to have somewhere warm and as safe as possible to sleep.

About this proceeding contribution

Reference

654 c198WH 

Session

2017-19

Chamber / Committee

Westminster Hall

Legislation

Vagrancy Act 1824
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