§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases have been reported to the police in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years of (a) owner-occupiers, (b) public tenants and (c) private tenants being unable to gain entry to their homes because of the activities of squatters; in how many cases there have been prosecutions and with what results; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Carter,pursuant to the reply [Official Report, 6th December 1976], gave the following information:
I regret that the detailed information requested is not readily available and could not be provided without disproportionate effort and cost. Squatting in Northern Ireland primarily affects the public sector, and in houses owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive there were just over 6,000 squatters on 30th September 1975. A continuation of squatting especially on an organised basis, defeats the whole principle of allocating houses on the basis of housing needs, and warning has been given that building may have to stop in areas where organised squatting persists. Legal action is being taken to evict squatters, and I am urgently examining what changes are necessary in the law to enable more effective steps to be taken.