To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) council tenant households and (b) housing association tenants there were in England in the most recent year for which figures are available. (94757)

There were 2,117,000 occupied dwellings owned by local authorities and 1,833,000 owned by registered social landlords in England on April 1 2005. These figures are as reported by local authorities to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to increase the supply of shared private sector accommodation suitable for single people. (96140)

The Government have no plans to influence the market for the supply of shared private sector accommodation suitable for single people. However the growth of the private rented sector in recent years through ‘Buy to Let’ has led to a substantial increase in the supply of accommodation for young sharers, notably students, so that almost half of the tenants catered for by the sector are now under 35.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average cost is of renovating an empty home in each of the housing low demand pathfinder areas in England. (96171)

We do not hold information on the cost of renovating empty homes in pathfinder areas. However the pathfinders do provide figures for the average cost of all refurbishments and improvements carried out each year, including refurbishments to the decent homes standard as well as more minor improvements. The following table lists average costs for 2005-06. We do not know how many of the refurbished or improved properties were empty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of housing stock has a standard assessment procedure rating of 65 or more. (96590)

In 2004 20 per cent. of the housing stock in England had a standard assessment procedure of 65 or more.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what financial incentives she will offer Mid Sussex district council to deliver the Department’s housing targets. (97375)

[holding answer 26 October 2006]: The Government have recently consulted on a housing and planning and delivery grant as a potential incentive for local authorities to help deliver additional housing to respond to the housing needs of their communities. The consultation closed on 17 October and the Government are currently considering the responses to it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people are on the housing waiting list in the London borough of Sutton. (99023)

There were 3,408 households on the housing waiting list in Sutton, as at 1 April 2006¹.

Not everyone on the waiting list is necessarily in urgent housing need. The waiting list includes those who consider social housing as their preferred or one of a number of housing options, and those who decide to get on to the waiting list ladder before they need or want to move house.

Source:

¹ Department for Communities and Local Governments Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix, HSSA).

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many right to buy (a) applications and (b) sales there were in the North East of England in each year since 1980. (98593)

The numbers of right-to-buy applications and sales can be found on the Department's website:

http://wvw.communities.gov.uk/pub/383/Table648_id1156383.xls