HC Deb 27 January 1993 vol 217 cc771-2W
Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply the Minister for Housing and Planning is making to the letter sent to him on 18 January by the chairman of Manchester's housing committee; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average level of housing association rents in Hampshire in each of the years 1987 to 1992 expressed in(a) actual prices and (b) 1989 prices.

Mr. Baldry

The averages on a weekly basis of registered fair rents for unfurnished housing association accommodation, and of assured tenancy rents for housing association lettings, in Hampshire are as follows:

Mr. Baldry

My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning has today written to the chairman of Manchester city council's housing committee explaining that the figure of 5,000 empty council homes in Manchester, which he quoted in his interview with Brian Walden on 17 January, is based on the council's own returns. It represents the total number of vacant council properties and does not distinguish between capital voids (ie properties awaiting demolition or improvement) and management voids (ie. units of accommodation which became vacant through the movement of tenants).