§ 41. Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons are currently on rent strike; how long they have been involved in such strikes; how much is now owing in rent arrears in aggregate and per average household; and how these households are distributed in each of the main towns.
§ Mr. David HowellApproximately 22,000 tenants of public authority dwellings are withholding rent, the majority of whom have been doing so since August, 1971. The total arrears including rates amount to just over £1 million; the average per household is about £50. The distribution of households in the main areas is:
Belfast … … … 7,365 Londonderry … … … 5,020 Newry … … … 1,618 Lurgan … … … 950 Strabane … … … 789 Armagh … … … 449 Omagh … … … 329 Dungannon … … … 220