§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many houses were sold through the Northern Ireland Co-Ownership Scheme in each of the last five years. [121728]
§ Mr. SpellarThe information is as follows:
Financial Year Number of new Co-ownership participants Number of participants moving to full home ownership 1998–99 578 539 1999–2000 587 666 2000–01 510 585 2001–02 645 567 2002–03 801 621
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the budgetary allocation to the Northern Ireland Co-ownership Scheme was in each of the last five years; what plans he has to improve the scheme's budgetary position; and if he will make a statement. [121732]
§ Mr. SpellarThe funding available to the Northern Ireland Co-ownership Scheme in each of the last five years is as follows:
£ million Financial year Housing Association Grants Recycled receipts Total 1998–99 3.60 7.40 11.00 1999–2000 3.60 8.60 12.20 2000–01 6.24 6.43 12.67 2001–02 9.90 9.51 19.41 2002–03 12.94 12.98 25.92 The scheme operates on the basis of grant aid from the Department for Social Development, in the form of Housing Association Grant, and recycled receipts from surpluses made on the sale of equity tranches to participants.
Because of other demands on the housing budget it is becoming difficult to sustain funding from the Department for the scheme at the levels which have been seen in recent years. I will however continue to do everything possible to secure an adequate level of funding to allow the scheme to assist as many participants as possible.