§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish a proposal for a draft order providing for the reform of housing benefits in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. John PattenIt is my intention to publish a proposal for a draft order early in the spring 1983 with a view to implementing the full reform of housing benefits from November 1983. The proposal will broadly match the corresponding Great Britain legislation and will provide for the Department of the Environment to continue to deal with claims from owner occupiers and for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to handle claims from tenants in both the public and private sectors. The proposal will be referred to the Northern Ireland Assembly for comment.