§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the(a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) his Department, (ii) his agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which he has responsibility, in (A) 1995–96, (B) 1996–97, (C) 1997–98 to date and (D) 1997–98 full year. [26677]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 5 February 1998]: My Department's estimate of the annual cost and total value of the empty properties (excluding empty homes) it owns for each of the financial years requested is as follows:
£000 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 to date 1997–98 full year Total costs 925 914 227 254 Total value 6,081 6,045 4,480 4,480 These figures do not take account of the empty homes owned by my Department for which central records are 808W not held. A meaningful estimate could therefore be made only at disproportionate cost. Progress in reducing the number of these is reported annually.