§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the likely effect on employment by Government Departments as a result of the introduction of a unified system of housing benefits into Northern Ireland;
(2) what will be the effect on employment in (a) the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and (b) the Department of Health and Social Services as a result of the introduction of a system of unified housing benefits in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. John Patten[pursuant to his reply, 8 February 1982]: Preliminary estimates calculated in mid-1982 suggested that the reform of housing benefits in Northern Ireland should lead to a net saving of some eight staff in the public sector. It was estimted that a reduction of up to 78 staff in the Department of Health and Social Services (Northern Ireland) would probably be largely offset by staff increases in the Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive—six and 64 respectively. More up-to-date figures are not available.