§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the total number of accommodation units, in both public and private sectors, respectively, now standing empty in England and Wales at the latest available date.
§ Mr. KaufmanThe latest comprehensive information is from the 1971 census, which recorded approximately 676,000 403W dwellings in both public and private sectors in England and Wales as being vacant on census night. Limited sample information which has become available since is inadequate for estimating the situation over the country as a whole. Houses may be empty for many reasons. They may be in process of being let, sold, converted or improved, or they may be vacant because of coming redevelopment.