To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 19 October 2009, Official Report, column 1299W, on empty dwelling management orders, how many empty dwelling management orders have been issued by each local authority since the date of that answer; how many resulted in the re-occupation of empty dwellings; and if he will make a statement. (314844)

27 interim empty dwelling management orders had been issued by 19 October 2009. Since that date the Department is aware of one further interim empty dwelling management order issued by South Gloucestershire council that has been authorised by a residential property tribunal. This has not yet resulted in the reoccupation of the property.

Empty dwelling management orders are a last resort, where all other measures of investigation and negotiation have been exhausted and the local authority has been unable to persuade the owner to bring the property back into use. In many cases the threat of an empty dwelling management order is sufficient to make owners take action.