Mr. WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met members of the Northern Ireland Housing Council to discuss the budget of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. [17742]
§ Mr. MossMy right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has not met the members of the Northern Ireland Housing Council, but I met them on 4 April 1996 at which time we discussed several matters including the allocation of resources for 1996–97 for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and housing associations.
Mr. WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many submissions he has received(a) in favour of and (b) opposed to, his proposals to subject Northern Ireland Housing Executive functions to compulsory competitive tendering; and if he will make a statement. [17745]
§ Mr. MossOver 130 copies of the proposal for the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order, which included provisions subjecting the Northern Ireland Housing Executive functions to compulsory competitive tendering, were issued on 19 January 1996. Thirty-four submissions were received, of which two were in favour of, and eight were opposed to, the proposals to subject Northern Ireland Housing Executive functions to compulsory competitive tendering.