Written question asked by Gordon Prentice (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 11 February 1997. It was answered by James Clappison (Conservative) on Tuesday, 11 February 1997 on behalf of the Department of the Environment.

Dept of the Environment

Question: If he will estimate the number and percentage of private sector properties for each district council in England which have been unoccupied for longer than six months. - Includes ref to 1996 (HIP 1 All Items Print' (in Library DEP/3 4591).

Answer: Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the number of percentage of private sector properties for each district council in England which have been unoccupied for longer than six months. [14689] Mr. Clappison: Local authorities in England are requested to provide information on the number of private sector properties within the authority that are unoccupied, together with the number that have been vacant for more than 12 months. Data are not specifically collected on the numbers of properties unoccupied for more than six months. The latest available figures relate to the position on 1 April 1996 and are given in the 1996 "HIP 1 All Items Print", a copy of which is in the Library.

Secondary information