HC Deb 02 February 1998 vol 305 c453W
Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will encourage health trusts that are disposing of property to liaise with local councils to use those properties for temporary housing or shelter for the homeless. [26143]

Mr. Raynsford

My Department has issued, in 1995, a Guidance Note for Departments entitled "Government Residential Property—Securing Better Use of Empty Homes", which encourages Government Departments to liaise with local authorities about the use of empty homes and encourages temporary letting, particularly when empty properties are not being sold immediately. It is for individual health trusts to decide for themselves how best to make use of surplus property, but the guidance was circulated to all trusts in June 1995 so that they could have regard to its advice.