§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the number of houses which were demolished or otherwise became uninhabitable in the course of the last year; and as to the number of houses, previously uninhabitable, which became habitable in the course of the year.
§ Sir George YoungThe available information is from English authorities' returns for the financial year 1984–85. After allowing for missing figures, it is estimated under slum clearance powers 2,600 dwellings were closed and 8,100 dwellings were demolished, of which 900 had been previously closed. A further 15,700 dwellings were demolished or lost through, for example, destruction by fire or flood. An estimated 8,800 dwellings which would otherwise have been unfit, were brought up to standard following formal or informal action by local authorities. Information is not available about dwellings made habitable as a result of other forms of action by owners.