Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums have been claimed by the Housing Executive from the Ministry of Defence in each of the last four years in respect of damage caused by the Army to Housing Executive property in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Creggan Estate in Londonderry.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th March 1976; Vol. 907, c. 554], gave the following information:
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has claimed the following amounts from the Ministry of Defence in respect of damage to Housing Executive property, other than incidental damage sustained during house search operations:
1974–75 £23,356.87 1975–76 £23,146.02 The cost will be borne jointly by the Northern Ireland Office and the Ministry of Defence. These are the only years in which claims have been lodged.
Claims have not been submitted to the Ministry of Defence for damage to Housing Executive property on the Creggan Estate because precise evidence is not available to attribute to action by the Army, damage, other than that arising out of house search operations. The cost of repairs for all such damage have been borne by the Housing Executive.
546WCompensation for incidental damage as a result of house searches by the Army is payable by the Northern Ireland Office. The Housing Executive has claimed the following amounts in respect of such damage caused to its property:
(a) (b) Year Northern Ireland Londonderry (including the Creggan Estate) £ £ 1973–74 5,309.69 271.26 1974–75 8,540.43 4,332.62 1975–76 1,907.86 714.99