HC Deb 23 July 1986 vol 102 cc325-6
3. Dr. Twinn

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by the London boroughs towards bringing empty residential property back into use.

Mr. John Patten

The boroughs reduced their empty dwellings from some 34,200 in 1982 to 31,600 in 1985, but further improvements should be made as soon as possible.

Dr. Twinn

I welcome my hon. Friend's reply with the good news that there has been a reduction. Is he aware that that does not apply to every authority? There is still a need to reduce the unacceptably high numbers of flats and houses which stand empty for a long time. What are the Government's proposals to ensure that councils toe the line?

Mr. Patten

We are continuing to give as much advice and guidance as we can, especially in respect of frankly delinquent boroughs such as Southwark, which is Labour-controlled, with 5 per cent. of its stock empty, Hackney, which is Labour-controlled, with 7 per cent. of its stock empty and, worst of all, Tower Hamlets, which is Liberal-controlled, with more than 8 per cent. of its stock empty.

Mr. Dubs

Does the Minister agree that one of the culprits in keeping homes empty is his beloved Tory-controlled Wandsworth council? Homes there are kept empty, much to the offence of homeless and badly housed people, because Wandsworth borough council is selling off those properties.

Mr. Patten

Wandsworth is without doubt one of the best housing authorities in this country. Through prudent management of its resources, Wandsworth is managing to spend more than almost any other London borough on the repair and renovation of housing stock.

Mr. Stanbrook

Is my hon. Friend aware that nothing will assist in alleviating the shortage of residential accommodation in London so much as the repeal of the Rent Acts, which have been the cause of much social misery as well as housing shortages for many years?

Mr. Patten

Alas, there are about 90,000 vacant private properties in London. If we could find a common sense way of bringing those properties back into use, that would be of the greatest possible assistance to the homeless. I wish that we could find some common ground about ways to achieve that without involving the confiscation of private property.

Mr. Raynsford

Does the Minister accept that his Department, when it last studied empty properties in the public sector, concluded that 3.8 per cent. of properties in the public sector were empty, 4.2 per cent. of properties in the private sector were empty and 6.9 per cent. of Government properties were empty? Will the hon. Gentleman put his own house in order before he criticises local authorities?

Mr. Patten

It is important for Government Departments to make sure that they are getting rid of all empty property. Certainly Government Departments, to take just one example, will be rid of all their empty houses by 1988.

Mr. Heddle

Does not my hon. Friend's answer confirm that local authorities in London and elsewhere are not necessarily the best qualified to manage the nation's housing stock? Is that not further endorsed by the fact that the majority of the nation's rent arrears, now considerably in excess of £200 million, should have been collected by otherwise negligent Labour-controlled councils? What proposals does my hon. Friend have to put out the management of the nation's housing stock to housing associations, building societies and others?

Mr. Patten

We have an appalling problem of rent and rate arrears in this country, which amounts to more than £200 million. We intend to explore every avenue that we can to reduce that debt burden. In particular, we are always prepared to consider the idea that the management of council stock should be devolved to tenants, who can probably manage it a lot better than many local authorities seem to be doing at present.