§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is his estimate of (a) the number of second homes and (b) the total housing stock in Wales for each of the years 1970 to 1980, together with the projected figures for the next five years;
(2) what is his estimate for the percentage of second homes out of the total housing stock in Wales.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe housing stock in Wales for each year from 1970 to 1978 was:
1970 … … … … 955,000 1971 … … … … 967,000 1972 … … … … 979,000 1973 … … … … 991,000 1974 … … … … 1,002,000 1975 … … … … 1,017,000 1976 … … … … 1,029,000 1977 … … … … 1,042,000 1978 … … … … 1,053,000 Figures for 1979 and projections for the next five years are not available.
On the basis of incomplete returns, I estimate that the number of second homes could be about 20,000 or under 2 per cent. of the total housing stock.