Mr. Robert G. HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many properties owned by local authorities have stood empty(a) for over six months or (b) for over one year; how many properties owned and administered by his Department have been vacant (i) for over six months or (ii) for over one year; and what is the regional distribution of these properties.
§ Mr. YeoLocal authorities report the number of their dwellings vacant for between six and 12 months and over a year in their annual housing investment programme returns (HIP1). The latest figures are published in columns A178 (six to 12 months) and col. A188 (over a year) of "1990 HIP1-Regional Grossing", a copy of which is in the Library.
The regional breakdown of Crown freehold properties on the common user estate with at least 90 per cent. vacancy are given below:
Outstation Properties vacant for 6 to 12 months Properties vacant for more than a year Scotland — 10 North East — 1 North West — 3 Midlands 2 2 Thames North — — Thames South 1 3 Central London — 1 South West/Wales 4 7 TOTAL 7 27