§ 11. Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) rural cottages and (b) older post-war Housing Executive dwellings have been improved in the most recent convenient period for which figures are available.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. David Mitchell)In 1981–82 improvements were made to some 186 rural cottages owned by the Housing Executive. This year the executive has already begun work on improvements to 864 cottages and expects to start improvements to the remainder next year.
The Housing Executive's records do not detail the ages of houses on which improvements are made.
§ Mr. RossIs the Minister aware that we are extremely pleased with the progress that has finally been made with the improvement of rural cottages? Is he further aware that there has been great disappointment in the past about setting out programmes for houses that were not fulfilled in the proposed time scale? Will he therefore ensure that the targets for the post-war dwellings improvement scheme can be met? Does he agree that it would be better for people to have a happy surprise if houses are completed early, rather than their not being done at all? What will be the financial arrangements for the improvement of postwar dwellings? Will it be the same source as for the improvement of rural cottages?
§ Mr. MitchellI well understand the hon. Gentleman's point. Expectations were aroused that it would be possible to complete the rural cottage improvements much earlier than has been achieved. It took longer to start the scheme than had been expected, but I assure him that in the next 12 months very substantial progress will be made.
§ Mr. Stephen RossWhat progress has been made in the sale of publicly owned property in Northern Ireland that has been modernised in that way?
§ Mr. MitchellSome 10,000 public sector houses in Northern Ireland have been sold to the occupiers since the beginning of last year. The hon. Gentleman may be interested to know that that total appears to be above the general level in the United Kingdom as a whole. It is certainly the largest for any public housing authority in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. KilfedderAs the Minister knows from his experience at the Department of the Environment that there is a very long waiting list for homes in Northern Ireland, will he persuade the Housing Executive to hand over empty houses that are in a habitable condition to people who are desperate for homes?
§ Mr. MitchellIf the hon. Gentleman will give me details of any such houses, I shall be glad to have the matter looked into.
§ Mr. SpeakerDr. Mawhinney.
§ Dr. MawhinneyCan my hon. Friend tell the House—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Member for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) indicated to me that he would like to ask a supplementary question on this. I think that there will be time for both his questions.
§ Dr. MawhinneyWhat proportion of the cost of improvements will have been paid for by taxes raised in Northern Ireland?
§ Mr. MitchellThere is no separate accounting in the form in which the hon. Gentleman's question invites me to answer.