§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will visit the squat at Artillery mansions, 75 Victoria street, London SW1 to discuss homelessness and the lack of affordable housing; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungI have no plans to visit Artillery mansions. I frequently meet staff of the voluntary sector agencies working with homeless people in central London and regularly visit projects managed by these agencies. I also launched the empty homes agency in February 1992.
On 8 February 1994, I chaired a meeting attended by a wide range of representatives from voluntary sector organisations and central London local authorities to discuss the considerable progress being made under the Government's rough sleepers initiative, which by March 1996 will have provided around 3,300 permanent new homes for people with a history of sleeping rough in the centre of the capital.
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department has888W regarding the ownership of Artillery mansions, 75 Victoria street, London SW1; if he will discuss its future with Westminster city council; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungI have no official information regarding the ownership of Artillery mansions, although I have seen media reports suggesting that Great Bear Ltd. are the owners.
It would not be appropriate for me to discuss with Westminster city council the merits of any action that it might take in relation to the building, since the owners might have a right of appeal to the Secretary of State in respect of such action.