§ Lord Stallardasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the amount of rent and rate arrears outstanding in Northern Ireland for each year from 1971 to the latest year for which figures are available.
§ Lord LyellInformation is not readily available in the precise form requested: the available information is as follows:—
Financial Year *Rent and Rates Owing to Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Registered Housing Associations †Rates Owing to DOE(NI) Total 1971/72 0.9 (Commercial Arrears not available) N/A N/A 72/73 2.3 N/A N/A 73/74 3.2 7.2 10.4 74/75 4.6 5.0 9.6 75/76 5.6 4.5 10.1 76/77 6.6 4.7 11.3 77/78 8.1 4.4 12.5 78/79 9.0 3.9 12.9 79/80 10.1 4.2 14.3 80/81 12.75 5.0 17.75 81/82 17.65 6.1 23.75 82/83 22.07 11.0 33.07 83/84 20.81 14.3 35.11 84/85 19.55 9.75 29.3 *The figures in this column were received from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and from returns made by registered housing associations in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive figures include domestic, commercial and district heating arrears. Rent arrears figures for registered housing associations are available only from 1980 onwards. †The amount of rates owing to the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland excludes rates owing to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive or registered housing associations. Figures on rates arrears prior to 1973–74 are not available.