§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 29 March (WA 14) and the Written Answer by Ms Armstrong MP on 28 June (HC Deb., WA 24), what is the reason for the discrepancy in the figures given in these Answers. [HL3431]
§ Lord WhittyMy reply on 29 March to the noble Baroness gave a figure of 81,700 vacant council (that is, local authority-owned) homes in England at 1 April 1998. The reply by the Minister of State for Local Government and Housing on 28 June to Mr. John Redwood quoted a figure of 95,300 vacant public sector properties at the same date; this figure is consistent with the earlier Answer but, by definition, includes a further 13,600 vacant dwellings owned by various government departments and other public sector agencies.