To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent progress has been made on encouraging the provision of residential property above retail premises. (112725)

[holding answer 8 January 2007]: We are committed to bringing more empty property back into use and to encouraging conversion of redundant space for housing supply. We have introduced Empty Dwelling Management Orders as a last resort power for local authorities to deal with empty property where property owners refuse to deal with the problem and fiscal incentives in the form of VAT concessions and a Capital Allowances scheme specifically aimed at unoccupied space above shops.