§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the empty residential properties owned by her Department are(a) operational and (b) surplus; and in the latter case for how long have they been surplus.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Department directly owns very little residential accommodation, all of which is in operational use and fully occupied except for any short periods when staff change. For the national health service, the information is not available centrally. Residential property is owned and managed by national health service 987W trusts, although regional health authorities manage some residual residential property. A survey conducted in 1992 estimated that there were some 1,800 houses and flats vacant comprising:
- 1,050 awaiting tenants
- 450 undergoing renovation
- 150 awaiting decision
- 150 for disposal.