§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how 188W many squatters there are in the Twinbrook estate in Belfast; how many have been taken to court; and how many have vacated the dwellings in which they live as a result of court action;
- (2) what efforts are being made to recover rent and rates arrears from tenants in the Twinbrook estate;
- (3) for how many of the squatters in the Twinbrook estate who have failed to vacate Northern Ireland Housing Executive property as a result of court hearings the Executive has applied for enforce rent orders;
- (4) what amount of rent and rates is owed by the tenants in the Twinbrook estate.
§ Mr. GoodhartDetailed questions about squatting and about rent and rate arrears in particular Housing Executive estates are aspects of housing management which fall within the day-to-day responsibilities of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. I have been looking closely at the general issues of squatting and arrears in Northern Ireland. I am considering and will be discussing with the Executive possible new measures to ensure that more effective action can be taken. Any new measures would, of course, apply in the Twinbrook estate as elsewhere in Northern Ireland.