§ Andrew MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to prevent vacant properties in Northern Ireland falling into decay and dereliction. [84998]
§ Mr. BrowneThe existence of empty property can be symptomatic of an underlying and complex interaction of wider social problems, including urban and rural decay, unemployment, crime and vandalism, anti-social behaviour etc. Solutions, therefore, are not just about good housing management, but require more complex strategies and inter-agency initiatives. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive, as the comprehensive regional housing authority for Northern Ireland, has put in place a number of measures to address the problem of empty homes in the public and private sectors throughout the province.
Local strategies have already been implemented to address the range of problems occurring in difficult to let areas. The Housing Executive's existing action plan has been progressed as follows:
Estate strategies involving improvement, sale and/or selective demolition have been put in place for numerous estates (currently 1,500 public sector properties are scheduled for demolition)The general over-supply problems of the 'new towns' growth centres (Craigavon, Antrim, Ballymena) have been systematically addressed and improved although further work is requiredDemolition and environmental improvement works at interfaces where feasibleUrban renewal programmes in private areas involving improvement, replacement or a combinationGrant aid including group repair schemes in some private areas exhibiting signs of declineMarketing, community safety and anti-blight measures in public sector estates including use of alarm systems, the appointment of neighbourhood wardens and other security measures743WImprovement or demolition of unpopular, non-traditional housing including decapitation (partial demolition); privatisation and more intensive management eg conciergeThe emergence of a number of locations as existing or potential over-supply areas have been under investigation and individual estate strategies have been and are being brought forwardIn addition, legislation is proposed that will provide for the introduction of a shorthold tenancy, to be managed by the housing associations. This is designed to allow vacant properties to be let for short periods where owners are reluctant to let for longer terms.
§ Andrew MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of empty dwellings in Northern Ireland(a) in Belfast, (b) in Derry and (c) outside Belfast and Derry, broken down by (i) county and (ii) district council areas. [84999]
§ Mr. BrowneFigures from the Northern Ireland House Condition Survey 2001 are currently being validated and will be published by the Northern Ireland housing executive early in 2003. The survey will provide up-to-date figures on the number of empty dwellings in Northern Ireland across all tenures.
In relation to the housing executive's own stock the following table sets out the position at August 2002. The figures include properties vested for demolition in urban renewal areas.
District council area Long term1 Pending demolition2 Belfast 379 1,257 North Down 5 74 Ards 3 41 Castlereagh 14 51 Lisburn 0 45 Down 0 1 Banbridge 4 14 Newry and Mourne 24 58 Armagh 46 12 Craigavon 194 144 Dungannon 105 4 Fermanagh 14 0 Ballymena 47 127
Treatment modality 2001 figures (weeks) Local 2002 targets (weeks) NTA 2002–03 target (weeks) NTA 2003–04 target (weeks) In-patient detoxification 12 7.1 4 2 Specialist prescribing 14.1 7.5 6 3 GP prescribing 5.7 4.3 4 2 Day care 6 3.9 4 3 Residential rehabilitation 9.1 6.3 4 3
§ Mr. StreeterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many state-funded places are available for heroin users on(a) methadone programmes and (b) programmes aimed at overcoming heroin addiction that do not involve the prescription of methadone. [83859]
§ Ms BlearsUp to March 2001, the number of drug users in treatment with drug misuse agencies and general practitioners (GPs) was around 118,500. The majority of those entering treatment are heroin users. Over the two-year period from 1998–99 to 2000–01 there has been a 16 per cent, increase in the numbers of drug users accessing drug treatment services.
744W
District council area Long term1 Pending demolition2 Antrim 0 20 Newtownabbey 42 79 Carrick 28 136 Larne 135 92 Moyle 1 5 Ballymoney 0 0 Coleraine 85 93 Derry 16 7 Limavady 0 0 Magherafelt 17 0 Strabane 21 2 Omagh 123 3 Cookstown 19 0 Total 1,322 2,265 1Long term voids are dwellings which are difficult to let due to lack of demand. Included within this category are dwellings which have been secured to prevent vandalism and properties that have been fire damaged. 2Voids pending demolition are properties located in redevelopment areas or purpose built stock which have received housing executive board approval to be demolished.