A TIME limit on homeless people living in B&B accommodations should be imposed, according to a cross party group of MSPs.

The MSPs backed the campaign by charity Crisis whose research found the use of B&B had a detrimental effect on people’s lives.

The survey found that 84% of 74 people living in B&Bs, hotels or unsupported hostels felt isolated by their living situation.

Almost half said they had no cooking facilities in the accommodation.

The group which comprise a Labour, Conservative, LibDem and Green MSP has called for a seven-day limit on the use of B&B to house homeless people.

Andy Wightman (Green Party), Pauline McNeill (Scottish Labour), Alex Cole-Hamilton (Scottish Liberal Democrats) and Graham Simpson (Scottish Conservatives) issued a joint statement suggesting changing the law so that homeless people are moved on from unsuitable temporary accommodation into more settled housing after one week.

The statement read: “To end homelessness, we need a bold approach. We believe that legislating to place a time limit of seven days for the period someone is placed in unstable temporary accommodation (UTA) will demonstrate to the Scottish people we are serious about achieving this goal for all homeless people.

“The Scottish Government must maintain the momentum to uphold Scotland’s place as a world-leader in tackling the injustice of homelessness.

“We therefore ask the First Minister to prioritise this change in the law in the upcoming Ending Homelessness Together Action Plan.”

Crisis said it was pleased to see politicians unite on the issue.

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said: “Living in limbo in unsuitable emergency accommodation prevents people from moving on with their lives.

“It is heartening that this has been recognised across the political divide and I welcome this cross-party approach to call for the issue to be tackled urgently.”

The Scottish Government will publish its action plan on tackling homelessness this week.

It is expected to set out a five-year programme, in partnership with local authorities and others, to address the issue of temporary accommodation.

In Glasgow Bed and Breakfast accommodation is used as part of range of methods of housing homeless people.

The B&B option according to the Glasgow homelessness Network isused “for a short period of time”

Other methods are temporary furnished flats with thousands of properties across the city rented from social landlords and the private sector to house people who are homeless.

Supported accommodation is also used where help is provided for other issues that lead to homelessness including addiction, mental health and domestic abuse.

On December 31 2016 there were almost 5000 children in households registered as homeless in Scotland.