§ 30. Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to reduce the present number of 14,000 unfit homes in Belfast.
§ Mr. David MitchellI have authorised the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to commence the largest ever programme for repair, improvement and construction of homes in the Belfast area. Some 2,500 new homes are now under construction in the city on 60 different sites.
I have also substantially increased allocations to housing associations operating in Belfast and am maintaining renovation grant expenditure in the city at a very high level. As a result there will be a substantial reduction in the number of unfit houses in Belfast over the next few years.