§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement regarding the enforcement of articles 54 and 56 of the Rent (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, indicating what responsibility the Department of the Environment or the Royal Ulster Constabulary exercise in the prosecution of landlords who illegally evict or harass tenants and if he will detail any record of involvement by his Department or the police in such prosecutions or other aspects of enforcement of these articles.
§ Mr. Needham[pursuant to his reply, 20 March 1987, c. 659]: Neither the Department of the Environment nor the RUC takes action to enforce articles 54 and 56 of the Rent (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, but cases of eviction or harassment involving offences such as breach of the peace, criminal assault or intimidation are investigated by the RUC. Details of such cases are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.