asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the total number of accommodation units in both the public and private sector, respectively, now standing empty in Northern Ireland at the latest available date.

The 1974 Housing Condition Survey indicates that there are in Northern Ireland about 30,000 empty dwellings—houses and flats with independent access—of which about 4,000 belong to the Housing Executive. This total includes dwellings bricked up, vacant or closed under housing and planning legislation.