§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if there has been any increase in the number of local authority owned units of accommodation 472W which are vacant, as the result of the policy of offering such units for sale; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ShoreLocal authority housing investment programme returns show the number of empty council houses but there is at present no detailed information available centrally on the reasons why local authority dwellings are vacant, other than for relet or for modernisation, repair or conversion. I am aware that some local authorities seek prospective purchasers for empty council houses and I would deplore it if authorities were keeping their dwellings untenanted as part of an indiscriminate sales policy, particularly in areas where there is a need for rented accommodation.