Housing (Hansard, 21 December 1984)

§ Mr. William Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the various housing subsidies, and grants payable for the building, improvement and repair of dwellings in Northern Ireland

Type of grant or subsidy	Primary legislation	Period of operation	Amount payable^*	£
Subsidy for houses built for letting by Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Local Authorities and Northern Ireland Housing Trust	Housing Act (Northern Ireland) 1945	1945–1977	60 successive annual contributions
			A. Rats of less than 650 sq ft	980 pa
			B. (i) Old person dwellings irrespective of size;	984 pa
			(ii) up to 3-person dwellings
			C. 4-person dwellings	988 pa
			D. 5-person dwellings	992 pa
			E. 6-person dwellings	996 pa
			F. 7-person dwellings	1,004 pa
			In addition a special subsidy of £195 per dwelling was payable in 1976–77.
Subsidy for houses built for letting by housing associations	Housing and Local Government (Misc. Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1946	1946–1976	Related to individual schemes.
Private Enterprise Subsidy: Houses built for Owner-Occupation	Housing (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 1946	1946–1978	A. Houses up to 500 sq ft	150
			B. Houses of 500 sq ft-750 sq ft	300
			C. Houses of 750 sq ft-1050 sq ft	385
Private Enterprise Subsidy — Houses Built for letting	Housing and Local Government (Misc. Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1946 and Housing Act (Northern Ireland) 1951	1946–1978	A. Houses up to 500 sq ft	300
			B. Houses of 500 sq ft-750 sq ft	500
			C. Houses of 750 sq ft-1050 sq ft	575
Housing on Farms—Reconditioning of premises for occupation as farm houses and approved workers houses	Housing on Farms Act (Northern Ireland) 1948 and Housing on Farms Act (Northern Ireland) 1972	1948–1976	Where the approved cost exceeded £75 the lesser of
			A .half the approved cost or
			B .the sum of £1,600
Housing on Farms — Provision of houses for approved workers	Housing on Farms Act (Northern Ireland) 1948 and Housing on Farms Act (Northern Ireland) 1972	1948–1978	For houses exceeding 750 sq ft and not exceeding 1050 sq ft—£600

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since 1954, the periods in which they were payable and the maximum amounts in each case up to the recent most convenient date.

§ Mr. Chris Patten

[pursuant to his reply, 17 December 1984, c. 59]: The available information is as follows:

385W

Type of grant or subsidy	Primary legislation	Period of operation	Amount payable^* £
Improvement/Conversion Grants	Housing (Misc. Provisions) and Rent Restrictions Law (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 1956; Housing Act (Northern Ireland) 1967; Housing Act (Northern Ireland) 1971; Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1976; Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981; and Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1983	1956-date	Maximum eligible expense in non-priority cases—Improvement Grant—£6,600; Conversion Grant—£7,700. Maximum eligible expense in priority cases — Improvement Grant—£10,200; Conversion Grant—£11,800. The rate of grant payable varies from 50 per cent. to 90 per cent. of eligible expense depending on individual circumstances.
Standard Grant	Housing Act (Northern Ireland) 1963 and Housing Act (Northern Ireland) 1971	1963–1976	£200 for the provision of basic amenities.
Repairs Grant	Non-Statutory	1975/76	75 per cent. of maximum eligible expense of £800.
Repairs Grant	Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1976; Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 and Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1983	1976	Maximum eligible expense — £4,800. The rate of grant payable varies between 75 per cent. and 100 per cent. of eligible expense depending on individual circumstances.
Intermediate Grant	Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1976; Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981; and Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1983	1976	Maximum eligible expense — £2,275 for the provision of amenities — £3,000 for associated repairs. The rate of grant payable varies between 75 per cent. and 100 per cent. depending on individual circumstances.
Housing Associations Grant	Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1976; and Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981	1976	Related to individual capital schemes undertaken by registered housing associations.
Special Grant	Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1983	1983	maximum eligible expense—£8,100 for provision of means of escape from fire—£3,000 for works of repair or replacement. The rate of grant payable varies between 50 per cent. and 90 per cent. of eligible expense depending on individual circumstances.
Urban Development Grant	Social Needs Grant Act (Northern Ireland) 1970	1983	Related to individual schemes.
^* The maximum amount of subsidy or grant which applied when a particular scheme was wound up or in the case of schemes still in force the current maximum amount of grant payable.