HC Deb 26 July 1984 vol 64 cc1229-30
12. Mr. J. Enoch Powell

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to accelerate the processing of housing grant applications.

Mr. Chris Patten

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the vice chairman that grants staff are currently working overtime in an effort to reduce the backlog in processing grants which resulted from the introduction of the Housing (NI) Order 1983.

Mr. Powell

Does the Minister recall that two years ago he intervened very effectively to help to remove the logjam which at that time accumulated in the processing of grants, and does he agree that a similarly effective intervention would be welcome at this stage?

Mr. Patten

There is a backlog, which I hope is a one-off backlog as a result of the 1980 order. We have increased the staff dealing with grants applications by 100 over the past 18 months. We have increased expenditure by £6 million this year, so that it has risen by 223 per cent. since the Government came to office. There will be a further increase of 26 in staff dealing with applications. I hope that we shall be able to shift the backlog once and for all.

Mr. William Ross

Is the Minister aware that not only can grants be given to householders by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but to disabled people by the Department of Health and Social Security? Is he further aware that there is occasionally a delay in the straightening out of the needs between the two granting authorities. Will he take steps to see that those problems, too, are sorted out?

Mr. Patten

Yes, Sir.