§ Mr. Norman HoggTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number and proportion of empty dwellings at the latest available date in(a) the private rented sector, (b) the housing association sector, (c) the central Government sector and (d) the local authority sector.
§ Mr. Trippier[holding answer 24 April 1989]: Estimates derived from the housing investment programme returns of English local authorities for April 1988 are as follows:
Vacant dwellings (number in '000s) Vacant dwellings as a percentage of stock Local authority1 101.2 2.4 Housing Association 12.7 2.5 Other public sector2 16.1 6.5 Private3 579.5 4.1 1 Includes dwellings which are closed or have been acquired for demolition but excludes dwellings on overspill estates. 2 Includes housing owned by new towns, county councils, Government Departments, nationalised industries, other public bodies and council dwellings on overspill estates. Many of these are vacant because of operational requirements, notably those owned by the Ministry of Defence and others have been acquired for demolition for example, by the Department of Transport. The Government are encouraging the sale of housing which is surplus to requirements and many of those that are vacant are in the process of disposal. 3 Includes owner-occupied as well as private rented dwellings.