Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) research and (b) evaluation she has undertaken on the impact of the number of empty homes on empty home premiums for council tax.

The government annually publishes data on the number of dwellings liable for a premium, and the number of dwellings classed as empty homes for council tax purposes. The government monitors this data with interest and will keep this policy under review. However, it is ultimately for councils to decide whether to make use of the premium. In doing so they will consider relevant local factors and how this will shape their approach to empty homes.