Second Homes and Holiday Lets

Mr. Heath
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes in Somerset were classed as (a) second homes and (b) holiday lets in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper
The number of properties designated as second homes in Somerset for 2002 to 2006 are shown in the following table. Data prior to this are not considered sufficiently robust.

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|    |Number|
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|2002|2,770 |
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|2003|2,792 |
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|2004|3,007 |
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|2005|2,973 |
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|2006|2,925 |
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The data are from a snapshot taken each year and are as recorded on CTB forms submitted by each local authority for council tax purposes.

The information regarding holiday lets is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.