§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department has taken and proposes to take to collect accurate data upon the numbers of persons involved in organised squatting from time to time.
§ Mr. ArmstrongMy Department has been, and will remain, in touch with local authorities about the seriousness of the squatting problem and its disturbing implications for housing policies and programmes. I am not convinced that data of the kind suggested in the Ques-170W tion would be of value for this purpose even if it were practicable to collect it.
§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in order more effectively to deal with the problem of organised squatting, he will introduce appropriate legislation to enable the true and lawful owner of premises to obtain a writ for possession from the courts without any notice of the proceedings being served on the squatters.
§ Mr. ArmstrongMy right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor has no proposals to do so. In appropriate circumstances a writ can already be obtained after posting notice of the proceedings on the premises.