§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses are in the ownership of his Department in each district in Greater Manchester; and what percentage of these are empty.
§ Mr. ChopeThe Department of the Environment does not own any houses in the Manchester area. There are, however, three flats held for the Lord Chancellor's Department, of which one, a caretaker's flat in Manchester Crown court, is vacant. Due to improvements in the Crown court security system there is no longer a need for a caretaker, but as the flat has no separate access it is not possible to offer it on the open market.