§ 33. Mr.Yeoasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate how many houses and flats in the ownership of local authorities have been unoccupied for a period of one year or longer.
§ Sir George YoungThe most recent figures for vacant dwellings in England are based on local authorities' housing investment programme submissions last year. These indicated that 22,700 dwellings owned by local authorities had been empty for one year or longer at 1 April 1983.
My right hon. Friend views these figures with concern. The Department is therefore about to embark on meetings with the 30 local authorities most concerned to explore in depth the reasons, and to find ways of minimising, the problem in the future.