HC Deb 03 November 1980 vol 991 cc453-4W
Mr. Peter Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the study group of senior officers from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Department of the Environment set up to examine in detail the housing problems of East Belfast and Castlereagh; if he will list the membership of the study group, its terms of reference, the number of meetings it has held and the progress it has made; whether it intends to invite persons and bodies outside the Department to make submissions; when and to whom it is to report; and whether its report will be published.

Mr. Goodhart

[pursuant to his reply, 29 October 1980, c. 308]: The study group, which is made up of officials from the housing and urban affairs division of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland and of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has the following terms of reference: To consider whether the housing demand in South and East Belfast and related areas can he satisfied by existing proposals or whether new measures are necessary".

The group has met six times and has now completed a comprehensive statistical analysis of the supply and demand factors in those areas. It is now finalising its report. Being an internal working group, it has not invited submissions from outside bodies. Its report will be submitted to the Department of the Environment and to the Housing Executive and will form a basis for future consultation with appropriate outside interests.