§ 8. Mr. Carsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement concerning the progress on the implementation of the main recommendations of the Porter Report.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. J. D. Concannon)In my statement to the House on 1st August I indicated that some of the report's recommendations were already being implemented by the Government. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will consider, in the light of the views expressed by interested parties, the content and timing of legislation on the other recommendations. He has, however, been impressed by the volume of evidence about the repair problem in the private rented sector and is urgently considering the introduction of a limited scheme to grant-aid essential repairs.
§ Mr. CarsonIs the Minister aware that the Northern Ireland Housing Executive does not have the finance to maintain its present housing stock? How is it possible for the Executive to take over privately-owned houses and maintain them?
§ Mr. ConcannonIt is a question of finding the necessary finance to deal with these problems. The answers to the hon. Gentleman's observations will not be available until the end of this month. We shall then consider the Porter Report, and I hope that a good discussion on housing will take place in Committee soon.
§ Mr. StallardIs the Minister aware that it has not yet been possible for hon. Members to obtain a copy of the Porter Report? Will he take steps to ensure that copies are made available?
§ Mr. ConcannonCopies have been sent to the Northern Ireland Committees of all parties and, I think, to all interested hon. Members
§ 10. Mr. Bradfordasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the proposed development at Lagmore and Poleglass, Dunmurry.
§ Mr. ConcannonIn the light of comments received on the preliminary proposals and the serious housing problems in West Belfast, my right hon. Friend is considering what definite proposals should now be put forward.
§ Mr. BradfordDoes the Minister accept that a method of solving a housing problem which itself creates grave problems for farming families which have been long established in that area is not a good one? Does he agree that a great deal of land in West Belfast could be utilised for the families for whom this new development is largely intended?
§ Mr. ConcannonThe position is not as the hon. Gentleman understands it. The housing position in West Belfast is acute. I shall use all the land that is available there for building. However, that will only scratch the surface of the problem of housing conditions in West Belfast.
§ Mr. MolyneauxDoes the Minister agree that experiments in the establishment of new housing estates in Northern Ireland have so far not been particularly successful? Does he further agree that there is a great deal in what was said by my hon. Friend the Member for Belfast, South (Mr. Bradford) and by the hon. Member for Belfast, West (Mr. Fitt) on a previous occasion, that many sites within the existing city boundaries are suitable for the development of smaller estates?
§ Mr. ConcannonMuch will depend on the amount of land we can bring back into use after the new Belfast inner ring road has been completed. Housing conditions in Belfast are so acute that all the land I can find to build on in that area will only scratch the surface of the 30,000 who are already on the housing waiting list.
§ Mr. FittI recognise that few sites in West Belfast could be used for rehousing, but does the Minister accept that I totally agree that West Belfast is bursting at the seams and that immediate action must be taken about the exploitation of this site before we can hope to tackle the problem?
§ Mr. ConcannonI am glad of the hon. Gentleman's support. I only wish that he and some of his hon. Friends had put it in writing when we asked for support, or for observations on the issue.