HC Deb 07 April 1998 vol 310 c180W
Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the Housing Executive's capital programme each year since 1987–88 has been spent on accommodation in(a) Catholic/nationalist and (b) Protestant/unionist areas. [37783]

Mr. Paul Murphy

Housing Executive capital schemes are developed on the basis of targeting those in greatest need through an objective assessment of housing requirements. No information is recorded on a religious apportionment of those programmes.

Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Housing Executive dwellings in Belfast are currently unoccupied by tenants to whom the Housing Executive has let these properties; and if she will make a statement. [37782]

Mr. Paul Murphy

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive whose Chief Executive has advised me that, at 31 March 1998, the Executive is aware of 93 properties let to tenants, but unoccupied. Of these 72 are temporarily unoccupied while major improvements are carried out. The remaining 21 are the subject of Abandonment Notices, the Executive having evidence that the properties are not being used by the tenant as their main home. Abandonment Notices are served following a thorough investigation and are the culmination of a legal process to recover the property.