Data released by the Department of Communities and Local Government shows that while many local authorities rarely house families in bed-and-breakfast-style accommodation, others are resorting to this practice.
The worst offenders are Birmingham, Ealing, Lewisham and Westminster. Westminster's figures are significantly higher than the rest of the country, with 121 families recorded as staying in temporary accommodation on 30 June 2008, down to 91 in March 2009.
A spokeswoman for the authority said it was working to reduce the figures. "We are right in the middle of London and there is a huge level of demand for housing," she said. "Our policy is not to keep families with children or pregnant women in this kind of accommodation for more than six weeks."
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