§ Mr. D. C. SOMERVILLEasked the First Commissioner of Works how many houses with a rent under £50 are owned by his Department; how many of these houses are empty; and whether the policy of his Department is to let or to sell them?
§ Mr. JOWETTThe number of such houses is 9,357, of which 106 are vacant, 82 being available for immediate re-letting and the remaining 22 will also be re-let if no satisfactory offers are received. My Department is legally bound to endeavour to sell the houses on its housing estates, but any vacant house that cannot be sold within a period not in any case exceeding eight weeks is immediately re-let.