§ Lord HYLTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many vacant dwellings there were in London at the most recent convenient date, and whether the trend in vacancies is rising or falling.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of the ENVIRONMENT (Baroness Birk)The latest comprehensive information is from the 1971 Census which recorded approximately 99,730 dwellings in Greater London as being vacant on Census night, of which 9,000 had never previously been occupied. Limited sample information which has become available since does not permit conclusions about trends to be drawn.984WA Houses may be vacant for many reasons; they may be in process of being let, sold, converted, or improved, or they may be vacant because of coming redevelopment.