§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many of the homes identified by the task force on empty homes have been sold to private developers;
(2) how many of the homes identified by the task force on empty homes have been made available to local authorities;
(3) how many of the homes identified by the task force on empty homes have been sold to housing associations;
(4) how many former empty homes identified by the task force are now occupied by previously homeless families.
§ Sir George YoungThe task force on Government Departments' empty houses is expected to present its final report to Ministers shortly. I understand that the task force has agreed with the relevant Department's targets for the disposal or occupation of empty residential property. I expect the final report to include details of these targets, and of the number of properties brought back into use, but it is unlikely to identify categories of purchaser or occupier.