§ Mr. Gregory CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the increase has been in housing executive rents in Northern Ireland over the past five years. [168297]
§ Mr. SpellarThe increase in Housing Executive rents in Northern Ireland over the past five years is as follows:
821W
Increase in housing executive rents in Northern Ireland Percentage 2000–01 4.5 2001–02 3 2002–03 3.5 2003–04 3.25 2004–05 3
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland housing industry regarding the possible introduction of home information packs. [168187]
§ Mr. SpellarI have had no representations from the housing industry regarding the possible introduction of home information packs in Northern Ireland.
I will, however, continue to monitor developments as regards the home information pack with a view to determining whether there may be merit, at some time in the future, in introducing similar measures in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the total of unpaid housing executive house rents in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [168188]
§ Mr. SpellarThe information is not available in the format requested, however, collectable rental income and gross arrears in each of the last five years are as follows:
£million Collectable rent Gross arrears at year end
1999–2000 286.0 14.6 2000–01 285.5 17.4 2001–02 280 4 19.0 2002–03 273 3 18.9 2003–04 265 5 19.1 Notes: 1. Collectable Rent includes rents of dwellings, garages and district heating charges. 2. Gross arrears include overpayment of housing benefit arising from tenants failing to correctly advise of thief financial circumstances. 3. Gross arrears is a rolling figure which includes un-recovered arrears from previous years.