§ Mr. Hobdenasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will extend to other local councils, including Brighton, his guidance on empty accommodation given to London authorities.
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§ Mr. MacCollThe terms on which my right hon. Friend wrote to the London authorities were given in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Whitaker) on 15th July, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. This guidance is available in this form if any other authority wishes to refer to it; my right hon. Friend would prefer not to go beyond this at present.—[Vol. 787, c.59–61.]
§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have used the power given them to levy half rates on empty properties; and if. in view of the fact that the majority of councils have not done so and also of the speed with which good empty houses are becoming ruined by vandals, he will now seek to make this mandatory on all councils.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonNinety-seven authorities in England and Wales are now levying half rates on empty property. I am not satisfied that there is a case for making the provisions mandatory.