Overview

This bill aims to improve the quality of accommodation provided to young people leaving the care system in England and Wales. It mandates minimum standards for housing and requires local authorities to ensure these standards are met.

Description

The Young People Leaving Care (Accommodation) Bill sets a legal duty on local authorities to provide accommodation that meets minimum standards for young people leaving care. The Secretary of State will define these standards through regulations covering:

• Health and safety of premises and procedures
• Personal safety, security, and accessibility
• Availability of private space
• Suitability of location
• State of repair
• Tenancy status
• Affordability
• Support for the young person

These regulations must be presented to Parliament within 12 months of the bill's passage and are subject to parliamentary approval.

Government Spending

The bill will result in increased government spending. The exact figure is not specified in the provided text, but it will cover expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State in implementing the Act and any increases in payments under other Acts resulting from this bill.

Groups Affected

• Young people leaving care: This bill directly benefits them by potentially improving the quality and safety of their housing.
• Local authorities: They will have a new legal responsibility to meet the minimum accommodation standards, requiring additional resources and potentially increased spending.
• Housing providers: Those providing accommodation to care leavers will need to meet the new standards, potentially leading to investment in improvements or changes to their services.
• The Secretary of State: Responsible for setting and enforcing the minimum standards, which will require administrative resources.

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