HC Deb 25 June 1993 vol 227 cc315-6W
Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive replacement grant scheme in each year since it was introduced; how many applications were received and how many were approved in each year since the scheme was introduced; and how many grants have been paid in respect of those approvals in each year.

Mr. Atkins

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but the chief executive has advised me that, because it would have limited value in the initial stages of the grant application process, an analysis by grant type is not maintained. However, he confirmed that 24 formal applications were approved in respect of replacement grant in the year 1992–93, the first year, following the introduction of the scheme in mid-1991, in which such applications were eligible. Between 1 April and 22 June 1993 a further five applications were approved. While to date no grants have been paid because none of the proposals have been processed to a payment stage, the estimated cost of this commitment amounts to some £373,000.

Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive improvement grant scheme in each of the last five years; how many applications for the scheme were received; and how many were approved in each of the last five years.

Mr. Atkins

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but the chief executive had advised me that, because it would have limited value in the initial stages of the grant application process, an analysis by grant type is not maintained. However, he confirmed that the number of formal applications for improvement grants approved and the relevant costs in each of the years in question was:

Approved Cost £ million
1988–89 3,260 27.3
1989–90 2,801 22.6
1990–91 2,864 21.3
1991–92 2,762 22.3
1992–93 5,569 21.3

Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive repair grant scheme in each of the last five years; how many applications for the scheme were received; and how many were approved in each of the last five years.

Mr. Atkins

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive but the chief executive has advised me that, because it would have limited value in the initial stages of the grant application process, an analysis by grant type is not maintained. However, he confirmed that the number of formal applications for repair grants approved and the relevant costs in each of the years in question was:

Approved Cost £ million
1988–89 6,975 12.2
1989–90 6,492 10.7
1990–91 5,039 9.4

Approved Cost £ million
1991–92 3,637 7.2
1992–93 4,410 8.3