Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the enforcement of section 32 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992 by the Certification Officer.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Section 32 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 requires a trade union to send an annual report to the Certification Officer.

The Certification Officer is the regulator of trade unions and employer associations. The Certification Officer has the power to require a union to provide its annual return. The annual return must include, among other things, details of the union’s finances for the reporting year.

It is not for Government to compel a union to provide its annual return. That is for the Certification Officer, who is independent of Government.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to assist local authorities in taking action to bring empty dwellings back into occupation and to expedite the administrative and legal process.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

According to the latest published statistics, excluding second homes, there are 719,470 vacant dwellings in England. 265,061 of these dwellings are classed as Long-Term Empty Homes, meaning they have been empty for more than 6 months. These statistics are published annually and accessible on gov.uk.

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given to Question UIN 6686 on 14 October 2024 regarding the support government is providing to help local authorities tackle empty homes.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of empty dwellings in England.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

According to the latest published statistics, excluding second homes, there are 719,470 vacant dwellings in England. 265,061 of these dwellings are classed as Long-Term Empty Homes, meaning they have been empty for more than 6 months. These statistics are published annually and accessible on gov.uk.

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given to Question UIN 6686 on 14 October 2024 regarding the support government is providing to help local authorities tackle empty homes.