House Building

HC Deb 28 November 1974 vol 882 cc602-4

5. Mr. O'Halloran

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied with the current levels of house building; and if he will make a statement.

The Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. J. D. Concannon)

Like other public works, house building has been adversely affected by the troubled conditions in Northern Ireland. Strenuous efforts are being made to build more houses in the public sector. This should be reflected in future completion figures.

Mr. O'Halloran

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. Will he give an assurance that in the allocation of houses there will be no discrimination of any kind?

Mr. Concannon

I think that I can give that assurance.

Mr. McCusker

Does the Minister accept that the house building record of the Housing Executive has been deplorable over the past two years? Does he accept that there is general criticism of the executive by all the political parties—criticism regarding allocation and general maladministration? Will the Minister give an assurance that he will do all in his power to restore some sense of local identity and to rebuild confidence in the Housing Executive?

Mr. Concannon

The Housing Executive has unfortunately become a political football. It has had some difficulty with its reorganisation. With the present troubled times it is trying to perform an impossible task in Northern Ireland. However, bearing all those matters in mind, I would like to give the assurance that the hon. Gentleman seeks.

Mr. Mahon

Does my hon. Friend agree that the extension of private house ownership in Ireland could bring a little more stability into that troubled area? What are the Government thinking of doing to bring the extension of private ownership into the hands of some of the poor within the community who wish to own their own homes as much as do the more affluent?

Mr. Concannon

I am considering all aspects of house building in Northern Ireland. The Housing Executive's housing survey is due out next week. I assure my hon. Friend that we have certain ideas in the pipeline to help the stock of house building in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Mather

What is the position of the tenants of public housing who have refused to pay their rents and rates?

Mr. Concannon

If by the "position" the hon. Gentleman means the number of tenants who are still on rent strike, as at 31st October there are 5,247 still on strike.

Mr. McNamara

Will my hon. Friend indicate whether there have been any delays in planning procedures due to people taking an irresponsible attitude towards the creation of new housing developments and new estates in various parts of Ireland?

Mr. Concannon

I would not say that there has been any delay or irresponsible action. I have asked for consultation with just about everyone to whom I could talk so as to achieve a basis of agreement. I am following that consultation procedure and at the moment it is proceeding pretty well.

Mr. Kilfedder

I believe that the recent report of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive indicated that about half the occupied houses in Northern Ireland are below an acceptable standard. Does the Minister appreciate that in my constituency of Down, North there is additional hardship because of the thousands of people who are on the waiting list, including young married couples and elderly people? Will the Minister give an assurance that despite the economic difficulties of the present time priority will be given to a crash building programme in Northern Ireland, and in particular in Down, North?

Mr. Concannon

Many people are awaiting finance for housing, but it is a difficult situation and will remain so for some time. If the hon. Gentleman has problems with the housing list in his constituency, I can assure him that on 21st September there were over 33,000 people on waiting lists in Northern Ireland. The housing survey that is coming out next week will set out the position. We should not blame the Housing Executive for the problems of Northern Ireland. A lot of people who had responsibility for these matters at an earlier stage have much to be sorry about.