§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he will take to reduce the levels of rural housing unfitness; and what action he plans for areas with particularly high levels of unfitness.
§ Mr. AtkinsThis is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive—the Executive—whose chief executive has advised me that the most significant way in which it can reduce rural dwelling unfitness is through the home improvement grant scheme.
To tackle the highest levels of rural unfitness, the Executive since 1989 has identified rural priority areas. It is intended to review the basis of these with the intention of extending them and to intensively market and counsel occupants on the opportunities and options offered by the new housing renovation scheme. From the current financial year—1993–94—the Executive expects to approve around 2,000 rural grant applications annually.
To a more limited degree, rural new building will help to further reduce unfitness. Several small settlements and `crossroads' areas now have a number of new build schemes to rehouse households living in unfit dwellings; around 200 houses are expected to be provided over the next two years. Additionally, the Executive has provided office accommodation and administrative support for the Rural Housing Association as well as identifying several rural locations where new build to meet the local needs of families living in unfit accommodation could be supported.