§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy to review 609W the Northern Ireland Housing Executive allocation policy to ensure that anti-social tenants can be transferred to new accommodation under a negative points system. [4458]
§ Mr. MossThis is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, and the chief executive has advised me that the transfer of any tenant, including those deemed guilty of anti-social behaviour, is governed by the executive's transfer policy and not its allocation policy. The executive has no powers compulsorily to transfer a secure tenant. A transfer takes place on the basis of a request from, and agreement with, an individual tenant. There are no plans to change this policy.
In cases where tenants are deemed guilty of anti-social behaviour, the executive, under the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1983, has powers through the courts, to seek repossession of its property. However, before taking such action, the executive will invoke its neighbourhood complaints procedure in an attempt to settle any disputes. For the future, it is envisaged that a draft Northern Ireland Housing Order 1997 will contain provisions strengthening the grounds for repossession where a tenant is guilty of anti-social behaviour, and provide for injunctions, backed by a power of arrest, to be granted in such cases. These provisions are similar to those contained in the Housing Act 1996.