EMPTY COUNCIL HOMES

That this House deplores the fact that more than 100,000 council houses worth around ú5,000 million are lying empty; notes this appalling waste when vast sums of money are being spent on accommodating the homeless in bed and breakfast establishments; further notes that 10 councils are responsible for one-third of the empty council houses in England, and nine of these authorities are Labour run, highlighting the sham of socialist expressions of concern about the homeless problem; congratulates the Daily Express for revealing the extent of this scandal; and calls on the Government to take every possible action to encourage local authorities to bring empty council homes back into use.