§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many social housing tenancies will not be varied before the end of March 2003; and whether the tenancies in Northern Ireland will be financially protected as a result of this new measure. [103278]
§ Mr. BrowneAs at 10 March 2003, of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's (NIHE) currently occupied stock of 103,353 tenancies and the Housing Association's combined stock of 20, 000, only 887 tenants have been required to or are pending a completion of a Deed of Variation to their current tenancy agreement. This variation is required to enable "Support" to be paid a Transitional Housing Benefit.
The Department for Social Development has advised the NIHE that in line with practice across the UK, it will honour the total amount of valid Transitional Housing Benefit claims received at 31 March 2003.