HC Deb 18 May 1995 vol 260 cc353-4W
Mr. McGrady

To 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. Moss

This 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. McGrady

To 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. Moss

This 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. McGrady

To 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since the introduction of the Housing (NI) Order 1992; and of these how many were(a) approved (b) rejected and (c) withdrawn, giving the reasons for refusal.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. Moss

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but the chief executive has advised me 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Table 1: Numbers of preliminary enquiries received, refused and withdrawn: October 1992–March 1995
Preliminary enquiries received Preliminary enquiries refused Withdrawn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.