§ Rev. William McCreaasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many timber-framed houses have been built by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive since 1980.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThis is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I understand from the Chairman that 115 have been built and that a further 70 are under construction.
§ Mr. Beggsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many flats and houses owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive are solely dependent on electricity as their heat source.
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§ Mr. Chris PattenThis is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the Chairman that between 19,000 and 20,000 dwellings are heated by electricity.
§ Mr. Beggsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the expected service life of metal window frames in Northern Ireland Housing Executive houses; and if he is satisfied that warped metal window frames can be straightened during servicing by contractors to make them wind and water proof.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThis is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I understand from the chairman that galvanised metal frames normally last about 35 years and, after servicing to remove warping, can last a further 10 years and be wind and water proof. Ungalvanised frames normally last about 30 years and due to progressive corrosion it is not deemed feasible to service them.
§ Mr. Clifford Forsytheasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many dwellings owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in the Antrim and Mossley district areas are unoccupied at the present time.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThis is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I understand from the chairman that the number of vacant dwellings on 8 February 1984 (excluding redevelopment areas) in the Antrim and Newtownabbey 2 District Office areas was 224 and 26 respectively.