50. Mrs. Jegerasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many habitable houses he estimates are unoccupied in the area of the Greater London Council; and what proposals he has for dealing with this waste of housing accommodation in an area of severe shortage.
§ Mr. MellishAt the 1961 Census 40,229, or 1.6 per cent., of the dwellings in the Greater London conurbation were unoccupied. It does not follow that this is all a waste of accommodation. A proportion of dwellings must always be standing empty to allow for movement. The London figure is comparatively low. Local authorities already have adequate powers to acquire empty houses.