§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current number of vacant or derelict houses, offices, factories and other properties belonging to his Department; and what are his plans to sell or utilise them.
§ Mr. Ridley[pursuant to his reply, 4 April 1984, c. 538]: Of properties acquired for Departmental road schemes and under direct management by my Department 343 dwellings, two offices, 14 shops, 13 factories and two other properties are at present vacant. Information is not available about vacancies in dwellings temporarily let to local authorities, housing associations and other bodies. It is the Department's policy and practice, wherever practicable, to let property until it has to be demolished or becomes surplus to requirements and can be sold.
There are also 11 vacant coastguard houses, some in poor condition, which will be disposed of if and when it is decided they are no longer needed for coastguard staff.