§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement regarding funding for voluntary organisations providing accommodation for the single homeless, indicating what measures he will take to ensure that the total level of revenue grants to these organisations in 1989–90 will at least equal the financial assistance given to them in 1986–87 by area boards and Government Departments.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 6 July 1988]: The draft Housing (NI) Order will contain a provision which will enable the Housing Executive to fund voluntary bodies concerned with homelessness. Discussions are currently under way between the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the area health and social services boards, the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of the Environment to ensure that the resources which will be made available to the Housing Executive when the order comes into operation will not be less than those currently allocated for funding of voluntary bodies providing accommodation for the homeless.