§ 59. Mr. FraserTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is initiating any action to bring Government-owned empty property into use for families in housing stress.
§ Mrs. RoeDepartments are fully aware of the need to bring empty dwellings back into use or, where they are no longer needed, to sell them as quickly as possible. Operational requirements are reviewed regularly and targets (agreed with the Treasury) set to reduce their vacant stock.
Where Departments have no immediate operational need for empty dwellings but disposal is not practicable, they are encouraged to let them temporarily to local authorities or housing associations so that they may be used for homeless people. So far more than 275 lettings have been arranged by the Ministry of Defence.