§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of households which will present themselves as homeless to the Housing Executive in 1989–90 and 1993–94, and of the proportion of such households for whom the Housing Executive will have a statutory obligation to provide accommodation.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 6 July 1988]: The best estimate of the number of households who currently present themselves as homeless is the total number of applicants who qualify for the award of A1 status (ie in emergency need of accommodation) under the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's housing selection scheme. In 1987 this number was 2,200. The number who had temporary accommodation arranged or provided by the area health and social services boards was 587 in 1986 (the latest year for which statistics are available). I have no reason to believe that the number of persons presenting themselves as homeless will, after an initial period following the introduction of the proposed new legislation, increase significantly.
§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement regarding proposals for726W a housing (NI) order outlining under what circumstances a single person who as a result of sectarian intimidation has no accommodation in which they can reasonably be expected to reside will be regarded as (a) homeless and (b) in priority need of accommodation.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 6 June 1988]: Housing problems arising from sectarian intimidation are already dealt with satisfactorily by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive under its housing selection scheme, and in the case of owner occupiers under the scheme for the purchase of evacuated dwellings (SPED). These arrangements apply to all householders including single people. Apart from providing a statutory framework for SPED, the Draft Housing (Northern Ireland) Order will not affect these arrangements.