Mr. Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will detail the measures which have been introduced by the Housing Executive to avoid the recurrence of overpayments to contractors;
(2)whether the total extra costs to the Housing Executive, resulting from the liquidation of the firm involved in the overpayment investigated by the Local Government Auditor, have been computed; and what advice his Department has given to the Housing Executive about the avoidance of a recurrence of similar cases in the future;
(3)what procedures have now been laid down by the Housing Executive to avoid losses due to solicitors withholding proceeds of sales, bankruptcy or deaths of individuals involved in transactions;
(4)what progress has been made by the Housing Executive towards reconciliation of the amount of rates collectable with payments actually made to the rating authority for 1981–82 and 1982–83 in respect of the Belfast region;
(5)how many posts are vacant in the claims management section of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive; and what difficulties are being experienced in filling these posts.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThese are matters for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the chairman that the information is not readily available. I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.