§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether supplies of hardboard are made available free by the emergency services to businessmen and shopkeepers whose premises have been damaged by explosives; and if he is aware that in many cases such help has been refused on the ground that it is only available to householders.
§ Mr. Peter MillsThe Ministry of Community Relations administers an extra-statutory scheme for first-aid repairs to residential property damaged by bomb explosions, which involves the issue and use of hardboard. The objective is to make the property wind and weatherproof, and thereby habitable, as soon as174W possible. The scheme does not apply to industrial or commercial premises but the owners of such premises can claim compensation under the Criminal Injuries Acts (Northern Ireland) 1956–70.