§ Lord HYLTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
- (i) how many Housing Action Areas have been declared in Northern Ireland since 1st January 1976;
1133 - (ii) how many houses have so far been improved by (a) the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, (b) Housing Associations, (c) others, and how many houses are in the process of improvement;
- (iii) in how many Housing Action Areas are Housing Associations currently working; and
- (iv) what steps they are taking or propose to take to prevent rapid deterioration of properties in the areas immediately surrounding Housing Action Areas.
§ Lord ELTONThe Northern Ireland Housing Executive has declared 19 Housing Action Areas since 1st January 1976, 18 of which are in Belfast. Registered Housing Associations are currently working in 7 of these declared areas.
On 30th September 1979, 211 dwellings had been improved by the Housing Executive in these Housing Action Areas and work was in progress on a further 103; 27 dwellings had been improved by Housing Associations and work was in progress on a further 106. In addition a total of 314 improvement and intermediate grants under the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 had been approved in Housing Action Areas for private persons. With a view to preventing deterioration in the areas immediately surrounding declared or proposed Housing Action Areas the Housing Executive and some Housing Associations are acquiring vacant properties for rehabilitation. Private sector house renovation grants are, of course, also available.