HC Deb 19 December 1974 vol 883 c605W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many privately owned and local authority houses and flats are standing empty at present in the London boroughs and in Leeds. Sheffield, Birmingham, Newcastle and Bristol.

Mr. Kaufman

The 1971 census recorded the following:

Dwellings Vacant
Thousands Percentage of all dwellings
Greater London 99.7 3.8
Leeds C.B 5.5 3.1
Sheffield C.B 4.5 2.4
Birmingham C.B. 11.5 3.4
Newcastle C.B. 2.6 3.2
Bristol C.B. 4.6 3.1

The census did not distinguish privately owned dwellings from those owned by local authorities, and the figures include dwellings in the process of being let, sold, converted, or improved, or which are vacant because of coming redevelopment. No more recent comprehensive estimates have been made, though limited sample information is available. I will send my hon. Friend detailed figures for individual London boroughs.

Back to