HC Deb 22 January 1975 vol 884 cc380-1W
Mrs. Jeger

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the present levels of unoccupied Crown properties, residential and potentially residential, in the London area; how many of such empty properties are currently occupied by squatters; and what steps he intends to take to deal with the situation, including the speedy bringing into use of all empty properties.

Mr. Joel Barnett

I am answerable to the House only for properties comprising part of the Crown Estate. So far as these are concerned the table below gives the information requested:

and Excise officers make to them for control purposes and from the general contacts which Customs and Excise has with trade bodies. This is a matter which is kept under continuous review.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost to public funds of distributing to every registered trader the Customs and Excise circular on relief from VAT on wood logs, firewood and firelighters; and what estimate was made of the number of traders likely to benefit from such relief.

Dr. Gilbert

The circular was not distributed to every VAT registered trader but only to retailers and others who had expressed a wish to receive information about the special VAT retail schemes.

The total cost was £39,000, including postage. All traders dealing in the articles which were newly relieved of VAT were potentially affected, but no estimate was made of their number.