§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for each type of home improvement grant at each of the Housing Executive offices were refused because of the means-tested element since the introduction of the Housing (NI) Order 1992. [23706]
§ Mr. MossThis is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but the chief executive has advised me that the Housing Executive does not refuse grant applications on the ground of a means test. The means test determines the contribution which an applicant must make towards the cost of remedial work. The amount of the applicant's contribution can range from nil to the full cost of the works and, depending on this assessment, applicants may decide not to proceed.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how long it takes to process each of the nine home improvement grant applications at each of the Housing Executive grants offices in Northern Ireland. [23704]
§ Mr. MossThis is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but the chief executive has advised me that the information requested is not readily available. However, the average time to process applications at three key stages is as follows:
Average time 1. From receipt of preliminary inquiry form to inspection of the dwelling 15 weeks 2. From inspection to issue of a schedule of Work 9 weeks 3. From receipt of completed formal application to issue of approval 4 months
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications have been made for each type of home improvement grant at each of the Housing Executive grants offices in Northern Ireland since the introduction of the Housing (NI) Order 1992; and of these how many were(a) approved (b) rejected and (c) withdrawn, giving the reasons for refusal. [23705]
§ Mr. MossThis is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but the chief executive has advised me354W that the Executive does not maintain records in the format requested. However table 1 indicates the total number of preliminary inquiry forms received by each grant office, the numbers refused and the numbers not taken forward by the applicant. Table 2 shows the numbers approved by grant type.
Table 1: Numbers of preliminary enquiries received, refused and withdrawn: October 1992–March 1995 Preliminary enquiries received Preliminary enquiries refused Withdrawn Belfast: Area 1 4,378 1,353 196 Belfast: Area 2 3,897 1,641 367 Belfast: Area 3 4,853 1,392 301 HMO Unit1 196 Nil Nil Ballyclare 3,312 1,506 205 Ballymena 2,401 584 104 Coleraine 1,567 383 281 Derry 5,127 1,383 456 Omagh 4,690 587 590 Fermanagh 2,802 555 56 Newry 5,559 74 46 Craigavon 5,940 730 393 Lisburn 3,258 717 332 Newtownards 4,374 1,508 416 Totals: 52,354 12,413 3,743 The main reasons for refusals are:- 1. the property was considered to be fit for human hanitation; 2. the property was less than 10 years old; 3. the applicant did not have the appropriate legal interest in the property. 1 House in multiple occupation
Table 2. Formal approvals issued: October 1992–March 1995 Ren NBG DFG MWA RG HMO Belfast: Area 1 413 — 52 156 796 — Belfast: Area 2 415 — 21 217 800 — Belfast: Area 3 403 — 63 365 883 — HMO Unit — — — — — 50 Ballyclare 277 2 71 225 83 — Ballymena 185 12 65 97 13 — Coleraine 157 7 56 89 14 3 Derry 366 6 165 278 23 — Omagh 228 20 136 335 351 — Fermanagh 128 118 50 248 137 — Newry 178 15 169 168 998 — Craigavon 209 33 119 199 1,864 — Lisburn 225 28 65 128 285 1 Newtownards 299 2 76 268 450 2 Totals: 3,483 243 1,108 2,773 6,697 56 Notes:
Ren = Renovation Grant.
NBG = Replacement Grant.
DFG = Disabled Facilities Grant.
MWA = Minor Works Assistance.
RG = Repairs Grant.
HMO = Houses in Multiple Occupation Grant.