Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on tackling the level of mental health issues among homeless people.

Sleeping rough is rarely the result of a personal housing crisis alone and we know that many rough sleepers and homeless people have complex needs, such as mental health difficulties, which result in poor life chances.

In 2010 we formed the Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness in order to bring departments, including the Department of Health, together to identify action needed to prevent and reduce homelessness and rough sleeping. This group continues to meet to discuss issues such as mental health.

Alongside this my officials are working closely with officials within the Department of Health to ensure collaboration on tackling mental health issues for homeless people. At Budget 2016 that we announced that we are developing a new £10 million national Social Impact Bond programme, to help homeless people with complex needs, including mental health difficulties, off the streets and out of homelessness.

I am working with the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt MP, and his department on this very important issue.