Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the effect of the introduction of the Payment for Debt Order, for collection of rates and rent, on the collection of rates and rent in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Moyle:It is assumed that the hon. Member is referring to the Payment for Debt (Costs of Collection) Order (Northern Ireland) 1974. The order was intended to encourage those on rent strike to resume paying normal rent and arrears and to help meet the cost of collecting rent from social security and other benefits. Between the dates of the announcements about the introduction of the order and its revocation, 5,500 tenants signed agreements with the Housing Executive to resume payment of rent.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who was responsible for revoking the Payment for Debt (Costs of Collection) Order (Northern Ireland) 1974 and what was the result of the order being revoked.
§ Mr. Moyle:The Department of Finance and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning, on my direction, revoked this order on 2nd September 1974. As a result, tenants having allocations made from social security benefits no longer had to pay 25p per week collection charge. At the same time, however, there was a 50p per week increase in the maximum amount of arrears deducted weekly from social security and other payments.