HC Deb 29 July 1976 vol 916 cc850-1
3. Mr. Flannery

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrears of rent are outstanding for publicly owned housing; and what steps are being taken to recover the arrears.

The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr. J. D. Concannon)

It is estimated that Housing Executive tenants owe £3.4 million for rent, £1.7 million for rates and £0.1 million for heating charges. Arrears are being recovered by allocations of social security benefits, under which some 2,170 tenants are having deductions made, and a further 500 cases per week are now being referred to the Housing Executive for possible allocation of benefits.

Mr. Flannery

Will my hon. Friend inform the House whether any of these arrears are due to the rent strikes, for instance, by the minority community, or do the arrears stretch across both communities?

Mr. Concannon

The Department does not now divide the rent arrears between those who were involved in the rent strike and other defaulters. The former's arrears have been reduced to such an amount that it is hardly worth trying to divide them up. On the other hand, a new feature in Northern Ireland is that rent arrears are divided between the two communities.

Mr. Carson

Will the Minister inform us how many deductions are being made from wages? Will he also inform us how many people owing between £400 and £500 in arrears have now left the area, and what steps are being taken to recover these outstanding debts?

Mr. Concannon

We are going to recover the outstanding amounts. There will be no amnesty. There are 120 public employees having deductions made from their salaries and 1,350 tenants have been taken before the enforcement of judgments office. We intend collecting these arrears.

Mr. Wm. Ross

Is the Minister aware of the problems being encountered by private landlords in areas where normal policing cannot be carried out? What advice has been given to private landlords who are suffering as much as people in the public sector?

Mr. Concannon

This matter is dealt with in the Porter Report, on which I have made a statement. I hope that legislation will be brought before the House in due course. This is not a new point. Policing in certain areas is not yet in full force. This situation has been going on for some time. Private landlords can take these individuals to court.