§ Lord HYLTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many persons are now employed by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive; whether the present staffing is below the permitted establishment, and if so by how many; and how many persons have been dismissed and how many have been asked to resign since the Executive came into being.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE (Lord Elton)The total number of staff employed in all grades by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive is primarily a matter for the Executive. I understand that the current total is 4,590. The number of staff employed in senior and middle grade posts by the Executive is subject to the approval of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, but of the 490 posts approved it is not known how many are vacant. Information about the number of persons who have been dismissed or have been asked to resign since the Executive came into being is also not available: I shall be asking the chairman of the Housing Executive to write to the noble Lord.