Political parties and the implementation of homeless legislation by nonmetropolitan districts in England and Wales, 1985–1990

Abstract

This paper investigates rates of inquiry into homelessness and the provision of permanent housing for the homeless between April 1985 and March 1990. Examining all nonmetropolitan district councils in England and Wales, the study points to the considerable autonomy that local government has in the implementation of policy on homelessness. It is suggested that this leads to local policies being tied to political values, as well as to local socio-economic and housing conditions. Using regression analysis to compare the performance of councils that are controlled by different political parties, it is found that associations between local policies and local socio-economic circumstances differ significantly across political parties. Councils controlled by Independents and the Labour Party have the most distinctive policy stances, with local socio-economic conditions being weakly tied to policy variation under the Conservatives. Differences between patterns of inquiries into homelessness and the provision of housing for the homeless are identified and relationships are noted that merit detailed local investigation.