HC Deb 19 April 2004 vol 420 cc288-9W
Mr. McCrady

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the breakdown by community background in numbers and percentages is of those waiting for public sector housing in(a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Belfast areas in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001, (iii) 2002 and (iv) 2003. [166044]

Mr. Spellar

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive, under its Section 75 Equality duties, is developing a comprehensive approach to record keeping and monitoring in relation to religious affiliation. The information requested is only available for the last two financial years in respect of those waiting to be allocated properties by either the Northern Ireland Housing Executive or a registered housing association and is a snapshot of the waiting list at 31 March in each of the years.

2001–02 2002–03
Number Percentage Number Percentage
Northern Ireland
Protestant 12,268 47 12,237 47
Catholic 10,180 39 10,512 40
Undisclosed/

Unavailable

 2,350 9 2,103 8
Other 1,305 5 1,394 5
Total 26,103 26,246
Belfast
Catholic 3,728 43 3,187 44
Protestant 3,029 39 3,125 43
Undisclosed/

Unavailable

 648 8 567 8
Other 345 4 387 5
Total 7,750 7,266

The breakdown is based on answers, as stated on the General Housing Application Form, to a question about the religion of the respondent and the raw data are still subject to testing for reliability and validity. The question was answered by over 91 per cent. of applicants.

Mr. McCrady

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the breakdown by community background in numbers and percentages is of those allocated public sector housing in(a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Belfast areas in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001, (iii) 2002 and (iv) 2003. [166045]

Mr. Spellar

Housing is allocated on the basis of need and not religious affiliation. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive, under its Section 75 Equality duties, is developing a comprehensive approach to record keeping and monitoring in relation to religious affiliation. The information requested is only available for one financial year 1 April 2002–31 March 2003 and the cumulative total for the year in respect of those allocated Northern Ireland Housing Executive properties is as follows:

Number Percentage
Northern Ireland
Protestant 4,959 54
Catholic 3,258 35
Undisclosed/

Unavailable

 530 6
Other 471 5
Total 9,218
Belfast
Protestant 1,331 64
Catholic 579 28
Undisclosed/

Unavailable

 104 5
Other 73 3
Total 2,087

The breakdown is based on answers, as stated on the General Housing Application Form, to a question about the religion of the respondent. The question was answered by over 91 per cent of applicants. The proportionately lower level of allocations to Catholic applicants in Belfast reflects the lower stock turnover in Catholic areas.