§ 41. Mr. Wickendenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the number of vacant dwellings in the public sector; and if he makes any estimate of numbers of empty dwellings in the private sector.
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§ Mr. StanleyLocal authorities' 1981 housing investment programme returns provide the latest available estimates of about 140,000 public sector and about ½ million private sector dwellings vacant in England on 1 April 1981. These estimates cover dwellings empty between one tenant or owner occupier moving out and another moving in, those vacant while awaiting or undergoing repair or other work, and those newly built but not yet occupied. Second homes and "holiday lets" are excluded. Authorities' estimates are not generally based on detailed surveys and their accuracy will vary with the private sector figures less firmly based than those for the public sector.