Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Stunell and Charlie Elphicke

Monday 30th January 2012 Commons Chamber

[Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con)]

6. What plans he has to return empty homes to use.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Andrew Stunell)]

We have put in place powerful tools and incentives to support local communities to tackle empty homes. The Government published “Laying the Foundations—A Housing Strategy for England” on 21 November 2011. This sets out our plans for tackling empty homes.

--- Later in debate ---

[Charlie Elphicke]

Although the number of homes empty for six months in the Dover district has fallen sharply, to 872, do Ministers agree that a lot more work is needed to undo the damage of the past in Dover? In 2005, there were 674 empty homes. I urge the fastest possible action. During the same time, the social housing waiting list has grown by 14%.

[Andrew Stunell]

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend that it is an urgent task to get empty homes back into use, particularly affordable use. Often, the waiting lists facing many local authorities could be shortened if authorities tackled empty homes vigorously. That is why we have provided the new homes bonus as a reward and are investing £100 million to switch empty homes to affordable homes.