§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to enable local councils to bring the council properties now lying empty to habitable standards; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael Spicer[holding answer 18 July 1990]: The Government have made clear to local authorities the need to make efficient use of their housing stock, including giving a high priority to using their capital resources to bring empty properties back into use. The new housing revenue account subsidy encourages to reduce the number of their empty properties. Inefficient authorities reduce their entitlement to HRA subsidy.
In addition to their normal housing investment programme allocations local authorities in London and the south-east will this year have an additional £42 million to repair and rehabilitate their empty housing as part of our initiative to help tackle homelessness. This should create up to 2,500 new lettings.