HC Deb 29 June 1998 vol 315 cc4-5W
Mr. Donaldson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if data are available to enable her to make a statement on the religious affiliation of(a) applicants for grants and (b) applicants whose grants have been approved, in both cases by district council area, under the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1992. [47275]

Mr. Paul Murphy

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, whose Chief Executive has advised me that to date, there are still insufficient data to make a meaningful assessment of the impact of the grants scheme on applicants of particular religious persuasions. The Commission for Racial Equality has recommended that a completion rate of 80 per cent. to the relevant question on the preliminary inquiry form is the minimum which would allow for meaningful monitoring. At present, only 63 per cent. of applicants are completing the question.