Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what effect the increase in rents of the Northern Ireland Executive houses has had on the total amount of housing benefit paid to tenants in Northern Ireland for each of the years 1992, 1993 and 1994.
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§ Mr. Tim SmithThe total amount of housing benefit paid to Housing Executive tenants was £130.8 million in 1991–92, £144.1 million in 1992–93 and is projected to be £156.9 million in 1993–94. The increases in Housing Executive rents in those years were 8 per cent, 9.5 per cent. and 7.75 per cent. respectively. A number of factors affect the total amount of housing benefit paid to Housing Executive tenants and it is not feasible to isolate the impact of rent increases.