Government Housing Initiative

HC Deb 01 July 1993 vol 227 cc1099-101

4. Mr. Dowd

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many properties were purchased under the Government's housing initiative announced earlier in the current year (a) by the Housing Executive and (b) by housing associations; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Atkins

As a result of the housing initiative announced by my right hon. Friend the former Chancellor of the Exchequer in his autumn statement, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive was able to purchase 141 properties with its £3 million allocation, while the housing associations—including the Northern Ireland Co-ownership Association—purchased a total of 599 properties with their allocation of £15 million. That represents a total of 740 houses purchased under this initiative, and is, yet again, an excellent good news story.

Mr. Dowd

I welcome that statement by the Minister, but is not it patently clear that, while those initiatives have been taking place, the numbers of people on the housing waiting lists and homeless in Northern Ireland have been increasing? Given all the demographic information about the increasing housing need that will occur in the Province in coming years, is not it patently obvious that the actions that the Government are taking are no more capable of meeting the problems of housing need and homelessness in Northern Ireland than they are in the rest of the United Kingdom?

Mr. Atkins

I am sure that if the hon. Gentleman knew anything about Northern Ireland, he would know that the Housing Executive is one of the most authoritative and capable bodies, probably, in the western world. It is respected—

Mr. Dowd

Not according to the figures.

Mr. Atkins

Most certainly; the hon. Gentleman shows his ignorance. He ought to talk to his own Front Benchers, who will confirm the view across the divide in Northern Ireland that it is an entirely respectable and reputable body which does an amazingly good job. The hon. Gentleman ought to consider very carefully before' he casts slurs on that body. This announcement, providing more houses for people who would otherwise not have them, shows just how much the Government, whether at national or at Northern Ireland level, care about the problem that the hon. Gentleman is flippant about.

Mr. Clifford Forsythe

Is the Minister aware that certain areas of Northern Ireland have lost out in this scheme? It appears that that has happened because of the lack of housing associations in certain areas. In view of what he just said about the Housing Executive, could not a better scheme have been devised, giving people in those areas where there are no housing associations an opportunity to purchase or sell their homes through the Housing Executive? Does not the hon. Gentleman consider that that should have been done?

Mr. Atkins

The hon. Gentleman always speaks with great authority on housing matters. I understand his concern about his constituency. Certainly, as part of this exercise, we shall look closely at ways in which we can build on and improve the present position. If the hon. Gentleman would like me to take up particular points over and above what he has suggested today, I should be more than happy to do so.

Mr. William O'Brien

Has the Minister had the opportunity to study the report published by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on the tens of thousands of people who are living in substandard accommodation? Has he considered the Rural Housing Association's report on the dirft of people from rural areas into towns and cities because of the lack of housing in rural areas? What is the Minister doing in the way of housing initiatives to stop the substandard houses from falling down around the people and to stop the mass exodus from rural areas because of the shortage of housing?

Mr. Atkins

The hon. Gentleman, who normally speaks with great authority on these matters, is painting a picture that does not seem to fit in with the truth. We are in no sense complacent about the need for rehousing, particularly in the case of rural areas, but the Housing Executive's efforts, both in the past and in its plans for the future, are directed specifically towards such areas. Although we are never complacent about what has to be done, I believe that the Housing Executive, with the resources that the Government are putting its way, is making a pretty good pitch at the problem about which the hon. Gentleman talked.