Written question asked by Margaret Moran (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 June 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 26 June 2006. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Monday, 3 July 2006 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Housing (Luton)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of (a) black and ethnic minority and (b) all households are classified as overcrowded in (a) Luton, (b) Bedfordshire and (c) England.

Answer: Using the bedroom standard, the estimated proportion of black and minority ethnic households in England that were overcrowded during the three years 2002-03 to 2004/05 was 10.7 per cent. The equivalent figure for all households was 2.5 per cent.These figures were derived from the Survey of English Housing. Reliable figures for areas as small as Luton and Bedfordshire are not available on a regular basis because the survey sample sizes are too small.An ad hoc report based on combined data from both the Survey of English Housing and the Department for Work and Pension's Family Resources Survey for the three years 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03 provides estimates of overcrowding (across all households) of 4 per cent. in Luton and 1 per cent. in Bedfordshire. Separate estimates for black and minority ethnic households are not available.

Secondary information