§ Lord Gainfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the targets for the reduction of government departments' empty residential property.
§ Viscount UllswaterIn response to the report of the Task Force on Government Departments' empty houses, the Government undertook to monitor empty residential property owned by departments and to set annual targets. Targets for reduction in 1994–95 are set out in the table following.
47WA
Total Stock at 1 April 1994 Empty at 1 April 1994 Empty as percentage of total stock Target for reduction of number of empty properties held at 1 April 19941 Department of Transport 3,845 887 23 484 Home Office 4,5242 498 11 335 Ministry of Defence 68,106 11,006 16 3,5503 Department of Health 15,0004 1,8005 12 700 Scottish Office 1,6016 158 10 60 Welsh Office 239 437 18 37 Notes
1 Includes properties to be sold, leased or reoccupied.
2 Excludes figures for the provincial police authorities.
3 Targets relate to stock figures at 1st April 1994. More properties will become empty during the year as others are occupied or disposed of.
4 Most up-to-date figures available are as at 31st December 1992.
5 Excludes bed-space in hostels.
6 NHS figures included in the stock are as at 1st April 1993.
7 Excludes properties awaiting demolition or conversion to non-residential use.
We will monitor performance and publish achievement against these targets at the end of the financial year.
The Department of the Environment will issue shortly revised guidance for government departments on how to secure better use of their empty residential property. This will reflect the recommendations made by the task force. The Welsh Office will issue similar guidance separately.