HC Deb 05 March 1984 vol 55 c478W
Rev. William McCrea

asked the Secretary of Stare for Northern Ireland how many new houses are planned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for 1984; and how this compares with 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983.

Mr. Chris Patten

The chairman of the Housing Executive estimates that about 3,800 new dwellings will be included in contracts let during the calendar year 1984; there were 2,716, 3,317, 3,306 and 4,024 dwellings in contracts let in the years 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983 respectively.

Mr. Clifford Forsythe

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision has been made for the proper insulation and heating of retirement pensioners' dwellings in the Antrim and Mossley district offices areas of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Mr. Chris Patten

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I understand from the chairman that in the Newtonabbey 2 district which includes Mossley and in the Antrim district, all the Housing Exective's purpose built old persons' dwellings have been insulated except for a number in Dublin road, Antrim, which are included in a current improvement scheme.

The chairman has also informed me that all Housing Executive dwellings built since 1973 in the Newtonabbey 2 and Antrim districts specifically for elderly people include central heating. The executive is planning to upgrade the heating in 21 older dwellings of this type in the Newtonabbey 2 district as soon as possible. The remainder of the purpose built old persons' dwellings in both districts are being listed with a view to carrying out heating improvements within the next few years.

Mr. Clifford Forsythe

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Northern Ireland Housing Executive dwellings in the Antrim and Mossley district offices areas have been or are in the process of being sold, from January 1982 to the present time.

Mr. Chris Patten

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I understand from the chairman that in the area covered by the Antrim district office 688 dwellings have been sold; a further 703 applications for purchase are currently being processed, and of these 229 have had offers accepted.

In the area covered by the Newtonabbey 2 district office (covering the Mossley area), 566 dwellings have been sold; a further 604 applications for purchase are currently being processed, and of these 267 have had offers accepted.