§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what proposals he has for helping Knowsley Council deal with its vandalised derelict houses;
(2) what is his estimate of the number of vandalised and derelict houses/flats in Kirkby; and what would be the cost of making them habitable.
§ Mr. FreesonThe amount of money allocated to Knowsley Council under Section 105 of the Housing Act 1974 for conversions or improvements, including associated repairs, takes account of the council's special problems of vandalised dwellings: Knowsley Council estimates that there are some 1,700 empty dwellings in Kirkby of which approximately 700 have been vandalised. I shall be meeting the council in the near future to discuss this problem and to explore possible courses of action.