§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) when the report of the Management Services Division on the Northern Ireland Housing Executive will be published;
(2) when the recommendations in the report of the Management Services Division on the Northern Ireland Housing Executive will be put into effect.
§ Mr. CarterI assume that the hon. Member is referring to the work being carried out by the Management Services Division of the Northern Ireland Department of the Civil Service. In March, a first report which had been commissioned by the Housing Executive was presented and was made available by the Executive to interested parties. In June, the Executive and the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment agreed the following terms of reference for a further study
Having regard to the report of March 1977 and the views subsequently expressed on it, to consider and report to the Minister and the Housing Executive Board what changes, if any, are desirable in the structure and organisation of the Executive and of the Department of Environment to produce more efficient, accountable and responsive arrangements for the discharge of the respective and complementary responsibilities for housing of the Department and the Executive.Any modified arrangements must, however, preserve the essential concept of a single statutory Housing Authority, commanding general and widespread public confidence, and capable of achieving, and being seen to achieve, consistent, equitable and high standards in its programme, in its recruitment of staff, in its allocation and management of the housing stock and otherwise.A report based on these terms of reference will shortly be presented to the Housing Executive and the Government. It will then be considered, and appropriate consultations will be entered into 577W before decisions on it are taken and implemented. A decision has not yet been taken on whether this report will be published.