§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many unoccupied non-domestic properties paid empty property business rates in England in each year since 1997; [169485]
(2) how many unoccupied industrial properties were exempt from property business rates in England in each year since 1997. [169492]
§ Mr. RaynsfordLocal authorities have reported that 240,830 non-domestic properties in England received empty premises relief in 2002–03. The latest available figure for 2003–04 is 237,035, as estimated by local authorities in early 2003. Figures were not collected centrally for earlier years, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
1437WInformation on the number of unoccupied industrial properties in England that are r of required to pay business rates is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many empty residential dwellings there were in England in each year since 1997. [169486]
§ Keith HillThe available information on empty residential dwellings in England is tabled as follows. This data has been provided from combination of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Housing Investment Programme return and Housing Corporation's Regulatory Statistical Return.
Vacant dwelling stock, England 1997–2003 HIP and RSR2 1997 767,000 1998 753,000 1999 767,000 2000 761,000 2001 751,000 2002 732,000 2003 720,000 Note: Figures presented to the nearest thousam. Sources: ODPM's Housing Investment Programme return and Housing Corporation's Regulatory Statistical Return.