HC Deb 30 March 1998 vol 309 cc380-1W
Mr. Sarwar

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of vacant dwellings in Scotland. [35901]

Mr. Macdonald

I refer my hon. Friend to the report of the 1996 Scottish House Condition Survey, a copy of which is in the Library. The Survey estimated that there were some 109,000 vacant dwellings in Scotland, representing 5 per cent. of the total housing stock. Of these, 64,000 were estimated to be vacant temporarily while the property was being sold or re-let, 34,000 were estimated to be longer term vacant properties with the status of the remainder being unknown.