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4 May 2006 : Column 1818W—continued

Housing

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the change in the number of households in Northern Ireland was for the period between March 2005 and February 2006. [67542]

Angela E. Smith: There are no official statistics available to answer this question directly. However, based on the 1991 and 2001 censuses and official population projections produced by the Government Actuary's Department, it is projected that there were 660,900 households in June 2005 and 668,800 households in June 2006—a projected increase over one year of 7,900 households.

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people of (a) Catholic and (b) Protestant community background have been (i) waiting for and (ii) awarded public housing in (A)Northern Ireland, (B) Belfast, (C) Derry, (D) North Belfast, (E) South Belfast, (F) West Belfast and (G) East Belfast in each of the last five years. [66979]


 
4 May 2006 : Column 1819W
 

Mr. Hanson: Housing is allocated on the basis of need and not religious affiliation. It is dependent on existing stock becoming available for re-letting and the provision of new build social housing which can vary from area to area due to high demand and low turn over as well as the availability of land. The information is not available in the format or time span requested. However the tables set out the information that is available. This does not include transfers between Northern Ireland Housing Executive properties, nor does it include allocations made by Housing Associations. In respect of the waiting list figures no information is available before the 2001–02 financial year and figures for the 2005–06 year are not yet compiled. In respect of houses that have been awarded, information is only available from the 2003–04 financial year. The figures for the 2005–06 year are not yet compiled. In addition figures for the Belfast area reflect the Housing Executive Districts that approximately cover the four geographic areas of the city.

The information provided should also be considered in the context:


Waiting for accommodation

At March
2002200320042005
Northern Ireland
Catholic9,40110,51210,98312,182
Protestant11,40712,23712,51213,222

At March
2002200320042005
Belfast east
Catholic9910995101
Protestant1,2671,2371,2501,242

At March
2002200320042005
Belfast north
Catholic1,0621,1491,1571,332
Protestant386420451473

April to March
2001–022002–032003–042004–05
Belfast south
Catholic528497512555
Protestant889858836868









 
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At March
2002200320042005
Belfast west
Catholic1,4141,4321,5701,735
Protestant529612632661

At March
2002200320042005
Londonderry
Catholic1,0191,2701,2501,407
Protestant177214188249

Awarded accommodation

At March
20042005
Northern Ireland
Catholic580455
Protestant978828

Belfast

At March
20042005
Belfast east
Catholic81
Protestant6290

At March
20042005
Belfast north
Catholic4430
Protestant6454

At March
20042005
Belfast south
Catholic150
Protestant5044

At March
20042005
Belfast west
Catholic1937
Protestant7955

At March
20042005
Londonderry
Catholic7558
Protestant4524








 
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Investment Strategy

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps will be taken in the context of the investment strategy to tackle (a) community and (b) geographic differentials in (i) economic inactivity, (ii) unemployment and (iii) housing allocation. [67212]

Angela E. Smith: Targeting social need, along with equality and promoting good relations, are central to the work of government. This is fully reflected in the process for determining our overall expenditure priorities and allocations through Priorities and Budget, which is consistent with the first three years of the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (ISNI) published in December 2005.

In formulating investment priorities during the development of the Strategy, departments gave due consideration to these principles to ensure that opportunities were taken to tackle disadvantage, and to promote equality including in the labour market and in health, education and housing.

As the ISNI is delivered, the opportunities to tackle disadvantage and promote equality will be kept under review as programmes and projects are rolled out. The Investment Strategy itself will be reviewed in parallel with the Comprehensive Spending Review, and in line with the development of the government's approach to tackling poverty and social need.
 
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Literacy Levels

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will collect and collate statistics on literacy levels in Northern Ireland at (a) ward and (b) sub-ward level. [68034]

Angela E. Smith: There are no plans to collect and collate statistics on literacy levels in Northern Ireland at (a) ward and (b) sub-ward level. Measurement of literacy scores involves the administration of specific tests, and estimates of literacy levels in the population have depended on sample surveys (for example, the International Adult Literacy Survey which was carried out in Northern Ireland in 1996). Sample sizes for this type of survey are not large enough to enable the reporting of results at ward level or lower. Proxy information such as the proportion of the population with no qualifications is available at this level of detail for Northern Ireland (e.g. 2001 Census).

Local Government Finance

Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what have been the total annual (a) commercial and (b) domestic rates collected in each of the last five years in (i) Lisburn city council, (ii) Antrim borough council, (iii) Newtownabbey borough council and (iv) Carrickfergus borough council. [67618]

Angela E. Smith: The following table shows the rates collected for domestic and non-domestic (commercial) rates for the period 2001–02 to 2004–05. Figures for 2005–06 are not yet available.

Figures used have been extracted from the un-audited summary of rate collection (annex A) contained in the agency's annual report and financial statements.
District/rates collected2001–02 (£ million)2002–03 (£)2003–04 (£)2004–05 (£)2005–06
Lisburn
Domestic15.717.619.521n/a
Non-domestic13.214.71719.8n/a
Antrim
Domestic6.47,38.38.9n/a
Non-domestic7.78.48.58.8n/a
Newtownabbey
Domestic1314.615.717.1n/a
Non-domestic1314.815.715,4n/a
Carrickfergus
Domestic6.26.87.78.7n/a
Non-domestic4.85.25.44.8n/a


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