§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures have been taken by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to address race hate crime in Northern Ireland. [149234]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Northern Ireland Housing Executive has a Community Safety Strategy in place through which it can take action against perpetrators of racial harassment and intimidation. Until recently such action, which normally would have entailed steps to repossess property, was only possible in situations where the perpetrator was a Housing Executive tenant. With the introduction of the Housing (NI) Order 2003, the Housing Executive now has enhanced powers not only in terms of the action it can take against Housing Executive tenants but also through the use of injunctions to address race hate crimes occurring within its estates irrespective of the tenure of the perpetrator. The Housing Executive also assists victims of racial attacks through the provision of temporary accommodation pending enquiries into the circumstances pertaining to any individual case and permanent rehousing, where appropriate. It will also take measures to protect the properties and belongings of victims, if requested to do so.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many requests for assistance from victims of race hate crime were received in the last 12 months by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive; how many victims were rehoused: and what instructions have been circulated to local offices. [149240]
§ Mr. SpellarDuring the 12-month period from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003 a total of 30 cases from ethnic minority backgrounds presented to the Housing Executive as homeless on grounds of intimidation. Of the 30 cases, 17 were accepted as homeless as a result of intimidation and eligible for housing assistance. The remaining 13 applicants either abandoned their application or were ineligible for assistance under immigration or homeless legislation. While no specific guidance has been issued to staff in respect of racial discrimination, they have been provided with written guidance and training to deal with housing and homeless applications to ensure that all incidents, whether racial, terrorist or sectarian intimidation, are treated with the same degree of urgency and sensitivity.