HC Deb 08 March 1988 vol 129 cc124-5W
Mr. Beggs

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any plans to change the policy of offering £50 as site value for a terraced house in an area scheduled for redevelopment in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Needham

There is no "policy" of offering £50 site value for a terrace house in an area scheduled for redevelopment in Northern Ireland. In accordance with the legislative framework applying to compensation for compulsory acquisition, settlement levels are governed by property values in an open market and by the particular circumstances of each individual case.

Mr. Beggs

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many home owners denied grant because of redevelopment proposals prior to a vesting order, can obtain adequate compensation; and what estimate he has made of the average ratio between expenditure on private improvements and the subsequent level of compensation.

Mr. Needham

Compensation for houses compulsorily acquired by the Housing Executive is governed by property values in an open market under the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981. Data on the average ratio between expenditure on private improvements and the subsequent level of compensation are not available.

Mr. Beggs

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the level of compensation payable to owners of property which is to be acquired compulsorily, by vesting order if necessary, for redevelopment, was last reviewed; and if he will take steps to increase the level of compensation payable at present.

Mr. Needham

The Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 consolidated the previous legislation on compensation for compulsory purchase for this purpose and maintained the existing practice of compensation being based on the market value of a particular property. The level of compensation follows the market and is therefore self-regulatory. I have no plan to change the current practice.