HC Deb 25 February 2003 vol 400 cc455-6W
Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what has been the ratio of population to(a) housing units and (b) bedspaces in each county of England in each year since 1997. [97407]

Mr. McNulty

This information is not available annually. Estimates of population per housing unit for 2001 will be possible later this year when figures on numbers of dwellings are published from the Census.

Mr. Wray

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of new homes to be built in the UK will be transferred to the private renting sector; and what proportion will be built on brownfield sites. [98462]

Mr. McNulty

The information requested on the numbers of new homes available for private renting is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

In England, the target for the proportion of new housing on previously-developed land including through conversions of existing buildings is 60 per cent. by 2008. Latest available figures show that the percentage in 2000 was 60 per cent. and in 2001, 61 per cent.

Housing targets for other parts of the United Kingdom are a matter for the devolved Administration concerned.