HC Deb 28 November 1983 vol 49 cc368-70W
Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes owned by each local housing authority in Greater London (a) remained empty and (b) were officially classified as difficult to let in April.

Sir George Young

The estimates for 1 April 1983 included in the authorities' housing investment programme returns are as follows:

Local Authority Dwellings in Greater London
Vacant Difficult to let
GLC 1,299 8,285
City of London 93 0
Barking and Dagenham 705 3,000
Barnet 497 326
Bexley 203 38
Brent 674 5,000
Bromley 294 0
Camden 1,105 5,000
Croydon 378 900
Ealing 408 1,000
Enfield 497 1,026

Vacant Difficult to let
Greenwich 871 7,561
Hackney 3,295 9,281
Hammersmith and Fulham 908 1,843
Haringey 1,026 1,500
Harrow 109 0
Havering 446 800
Hillingdon 521 0
Hounslow 370 4,000
Islington 2,224 7,194
Kensington and Chelsea 286 502
Kingston upon Thames 135 12
Lambeth 2,280 16,000
Lewisham 1,961 6,000
Merton 334 0
Newham 1,197 402
Redbridge 402 480
Richmond upon Thames 133 1,100
Southwark 4,619 14,000
Sutton 143 0
Tower Hamlets 1,570 2,500
Waltham Forest 767 3,347
Wandsworth 1,387 7,575
Westminster 1,490 0
Total 32,627 108,672

Mr. Winnick

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many council dwellings were improved substantially in the west midlands between December 1974 and May 1979 and from June 1979 to November 1983; and if he will give the percentage difference;

(2) how many council dwellings in the borough of Walsall were improved substantially between December 1974 and May 1979 and from June 1979 to November 1983; and if he will give the percentage difference.

Sir George Young

The available information is as follows:

Local Authority and New Town Dwellings Renovated*
January 1975–June 1979 July 1979–June 1983 Percentage difference
Walsall district council
1,681 2,371 +41
West midlands local authorities and new towns
32,738 29,440 -10
* Work approved up to 1977; work completed from 1978. New towns' figures not available from first quarterr 1978 to first quarte 1980 inclusive.
Returns for third and fourth quarter 1979 not received.
Provisional.

Mr. Winnick

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many council dwellings were started in the borough of Walsall between December 1974 and May 1979 and from June 1979 to November 1983; and if he will give the percentage change;

(2) how many council dwellings were started in the west midlands between December 1974 and May 1979 and from June 1979 to November 1983; and if he will give the percentage change.

Sir George Young

The available figures are for the period up to June 1983 and are as follows:

Housebuilding Starts
January 1975–June 1979 July 1979–June 1983 Percentage
For Walsall district council
Allowance
3,255 313 -90
For local authorities and new towns in the west midlands region
Difference
52,390 11,962 -77