§ 3.13p.m.
Baroness VickersMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government which local authorities in England and Wales have had more than 500 dwellings vacant for longer than a year.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Bellwin)My Lords, the Housing Investment Strategies Plans for 1981–82 submitted by local authorities in England indicate that 12 local authorities had more than 500 dwellings vacant for longer than a year. I will gladly undertake to circulate the names in the Official Report. For Wales this information is not collected centrally.
§ The names referred to above are as follows:
| Manchester | 1,869 |
| Islington | 1,401 |
| Knowsley | 1,400 |
| Hackney | 1,267 |
| Southwark | 1,196 |
| Lambeth | 1,189 |
| Camden | 1,080 |
| Birmingham | 780 |
| Lewisham | 757 |
| Corby | 714 |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 645 |
| Haringey | 548 |
Baroness VickersMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. In view of the fact that the national mobility scheme was announced yesterday by the Minister, Mr. John Stanley, will the Minister ensure, as the scheme was welcomed by 333 metropolitan, district and local authorities, that it is made widely known so that people can apply for this kind of mobility in their areas?
§ Lord BellwinYes, my Lords, I shall gladly ensure that what is being done now receives the maximum publicity.