Homeless families in Wirral, which includes Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern’s constituency, are not being offered “safe sleeping” advice and are only offered beds “on demand”, according to Freedom of Information requests lodged by New statesman.
Wirral Council confirmed in a statement that there were 46 children aged 0-1 placed in temporary accommodation in 2024 and 41 in 2025. There were a further 26 and 25 children aged 1-2 in each respective year.
Tips for safe sleep reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (Sids, formerly known as cot death), which is the most common cause of deaths among children in temporary accommodation according to the National Child Mortality Database.
According to an investigation by New statesman. One in ten councils do not provide beds for homeless families with children under two, which is a requirement under guidance issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in March 2024.
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Thirteen of the 21 councils in the constituencies represented by cabinet members do not regularly offer safe sleep advice. All 21 nominally offer beds, although about half qualify it in some way, such as “on request”.
A current member of the government, director general of pay Nick Thomas-Symonds, represents a constituency where the local council, Torfaen Borough Council, does not even provide beds or safe sleep advice. Redbridge Council, where former Secretary of State for Health and Labor leadership candidate Wes Streeting has his Ilford North constituency, also falls into this category.
A Wirral Council spokesman said: “We are fully committed to meeting our responsibilities to individuals and families who require emergency or temporary accommodation, particularly where there are young children involved.”
They added that they are able to provide a cot to each accommodation “as soon as we realize one is required” and they are “actively looking to bring in” safe sleep advice as part of a wider review of support in temporary accommodation.
Alison McGovern and Wes Streeting have been contacted for comment.
(Further reading: How homeless children die)
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