§ Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether, when considering whether to raise registered rents in Northern Ireland, as laid down in section 33(1) of the Rent (N.I.) Order 1978, he consulted with the rent officer; what form such consultation took; which were the matters he took into consideration; what is the relation of the cost of repairs carried out between increases in the general body of housing covered by registered rents; and if he will publish in 319W the Official Report any correspondence relating to the increases in 1979 and in the current year to date between himself and the rent officer.
§ Mr. GoodhartA rent increase of 16 per cent. was authorised from last November and a further increase of 27 per cent. will be authorised from 2 June 1980, under article 33 of the Rent Order (Northern Ireland) 1978. On both occasions consultations have taken place with the rent officer for Northern Ireland, who agreed with the increases proposed. It is not customary to publish such an exchange of correspondence. The cost of repairs was taken into account in determining these increases but the overriding consideration was comparability with Housing Executive rents for similar dwellings.