asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the number of flats currently owned by local authorities; how many are currently unoccupied; how many such flats he expects to be sold to tenants as a result of his Department's current campaign; what percentage take-up this represents and over what time scale; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities in England are estimated to own 1·7 million flats. 113,000 local authority dwellings were unoccupied in April 1986; separate figures are not available for flats.Thirty five thousand local authority flats were sold in England between April 1979 and September 1986, representing 2 per cent. of the stock of flats. It is difficult to predict the rate of sale in future, but it is hoped that it will increase to over 10,000 a year.