§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many residential properties owned by his Department have been empty for more than six months; and what is the longest period for which any of the empty residential properties has remained empty.
§ Mr. HurdAbout 1,500 vacant properties are in the process of being sold, most of which have been vacant for more than six months. It is not possible, without disproportionate cost, to provide more detailed information about the length of time that individual properties have remained vacant.
§ Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were, for the most recent convenient date, the numbers of empty residential properties owned by his Department; if he will give the figures for the same date for the previous three years; what percentage this figure represents of the total number of residential properties owned by his Department; and what plans he has for bringing these properties into use.
§ Mr. HurdThe information requested is as follows:
Date Quarters stock Numbers vacant Percentage 31 March 1984 9,616 3,093 32.2 31 March 1983 10,311 3,045 29.5 31 March 1982 10,710 2,362 22.1 31 March 1981 10,995 1,940 17.6 Of the quarters currently vacant, about half are being disposed of by sale, and the remainder retained to cope with increased recruitment of prison officers and for use as staff quarters.