A report issued yesterday by Scotland's chief statistician, says overall the number of people coming forward as homeless in Scotland dropped by 5 per cent by March this year, although the number of households with children being sent to unsuitable accommodation such as B&Bs had almost doubled.

Highland Council was second top of the league for children and pregnant women going into such accommodation during 2007 to 2008 registering 14 households, with Perth and Kinross 22, 13 in Moray and 12 in Midlothian. Eighteen other local authorities had none or only one household with children in bed and breakfast.

The Scottish Government has pledged that by 2012 all unintentionally homeless people will have the right to a home.

Jamie McGrigor, the Conservative communities spokesman, voiced concern that 42 per cent of the households in temporary accommodation included children.

"In these pressing and difficult economic times, it will surely only get worse," he added.

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