HC Deb 17 February 2000 vol 344 cc646-7W
Mr. Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many second homes entitled to the 50 per cent. council tax discount there are in each district and county/unitary authority area; and what percentage they represent of domestic housing stock in each such area. [110204]

Ms Beverley Hughes

[holding answer 15 February 2000]: I have placed in the Library of the House today a table showing the latest available information on the number of dwellings in each English district and county/unitary authority area which are entitled to the 50 per cent. council tax discount. Not all of the dwellings that receive the discount are second or holiday homes. The Department does not collect separate information on these dwellings. The 50 per cent. discount applies to all unoccupied dwellings and certain occupied dwellings such as those where all of the residents are disregarded—for example, households consisting of someone who is severely mentally impaired and their carer.