§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons are employed in the special debt recovery unit of the Housing Executive; and how many staff actually go out to tenants to collect rent arrears.
§ Mr. GoodhartThis is a matter which is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present size of the rent arrears owed to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive; what is the estimated proportion which is attributable to the rent strike begun following internment; which areas are still affected; and how much extra money other tenants pay in their rent to meet the arrears and interest.
§ Mr. GoodhartAt 30 September 1980 the total rent and rate arrears due to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive were £10.8 million.
341WIt is impossible to make any realistic assessment of the proportion of the total arrears which are attributable to the rent strike.
The amount of arrears owed by Housing Executive tenants is not a factor in assessing rent levels.