§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many units of accommodation owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive within the Craigavon area are lying empty.
§ Mr. ConcannonThe number of vacant houses on 31st October 1974 was 683.
§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons, who were affected by redevelopment in Belfast, have been allocated houses in north Down by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive up to the latest available date.
§ Mr. ConcannonI understand from the Housing Executive that, since 1st October 1972, 106 families from redevelopment areas in Belfast have been provided with houses in the Bangor and Newtownards areas by the executive. This represents about 5 per cent. of all allocations of houses by the executive in these areas.
§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons, who were on the Belfast emergency housing list, have been allocated houses in north Down up to the latest available date by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
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§ Mr. ConcannonI understand from the Housing Executive that, since 1st October 1972, 136 families on the emergency housing list have been provided with houses in the Bangor and Newtownards areas by the executive. This represents about 6 per cent. of all allocations of houses by the executive in these areas.
§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will give an assurance to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that sufficient funds will be made available to enable it immediately to build houses for local people in north Down as the emergency cases from the troubled areas of Belfast, who require no points, and applicants from Belfast redevelopment areas must be offered existing accommodation as soon as it becomes available under existing policy.
§ Mr. ConcannonAdequate funds are already available to enable the Housing Executive to proceed with its programme for the building of new houses. Since October 1972 only 11 per cent. of the executive's allocations in north Down have gone to emergency cases and families from redevelopment areas.
§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will encourage the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to devote more of its resources to the purchase of existing small family dwellings, and to the modernisation and general improvement of these houses and cottages for letting to newly married couples and the elderly.
§ Mr. ConcannonThe Northern Ireland Housing Executive concentrates mainly on slum clearance and the erection of new dwellings in redevelopment areas and green field sites in order to meet all housing needs, including those of the elderly and newly married couples. In addition, the executive has been authorised to buy a number of existing empty houses, some of which may require improvement, to deal with certain special requirements, particularly the rehousing of families on the emergency list. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning is considering with the Housing Executive what further steps need to be taken, within the resources available, to make the fullest possible use of existing houses.