To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-33579 by Ms Margaret Curran on 6 February 2003, how many empty local authority houses have been brought back into use under the Empty Homes Initiative.

In total the Empty Homes Initiative (EHI) has so far brought back into use 1,318 empty properties for use by those in housing need. Local authorities took the lead in developing EHI projects often in partnership with Registered Social Landlords. No separate breakdown is available for the number of local authority houses that have been brought back into use.