§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many houses stand empty in London; how many have 691W been empty for over six months; and how many are allocated as sanctuaries for battered wives;
(2) how many houses stand empty throughout the United Kingdom; how many have been empty for over six months; and how many are allocated as sanctuaries for battered wives;
(3) what plans he has for recommending that houses or other buildings should be provided as sanctuaries for battered wives.
§ Mr. FreesonThe latest comprehensive source of information about vacant dwellings, the 1971 census, recorded approximately 676,000 dwellings in England and Wales—of which nearly 100,000 were in Greater London—as being vacant on Census night, of which 101,000 had never previously been occupied. The totals also included houses in process of being let, sold, converted, or improved, and those vacant because of impending slum clearance or redevelopment. Information about the length of time for which they had been vacant was not collected.
Information is not available about the allocation of empty houses or other empty properties as sanctuaries for battered wives.
The provision and allocation of accommodation for battered wives was one of the most important subjects covered in the Select Committee's recent report, to which the Government will be replying. Meanwhile, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 5th November.—[Vol. 899, c. 197.]