Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister for Social Development what targets he has set for benefit fraud prosecutions for 2001-02.

(AQW 953/01)

The Minister for Social Development (Mr Dodds): The Social Security Agency has a comprehensive fraud strategy based on a systematic, risk based approach to achieving a secure, accurate and timely benefit administration. The strategy has been designed to prevent fraud and error from entering into systems from the outset of claims as well as tackling fraud and error where it already exists.

As part of that strategy I have set a strategic target to "reduce losses from fraud and error in Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Incapacity Benefit by 5% for the year 2001 / 2002".

The Chief Executive of the Social Security Agency has also set a number of other key targets, one of which is "to refer 650 cases for prosecution". By the end of November 2001, 525 cases have been referred for prosecution.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to make a statement on the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act.

(AQW 954/01)

Mr Dodds: The Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 applies to England and Wales only. The Act requires Government to draw up and implement a strategy to eradicate fuel poverty in England and Wales within a period of 15 years. A Fuel Poverty Strategy for the whole of the UK was published in November 2001 and includes contributions from relevant Northern Ireland Departments. In addition, the Programme for Government sets out targets for addressing fuel poverty in Northern Ireland.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail the Housing Executive's progress towards achieving its target of 34% improvement in energy efficiency in the domestic sector since 1996.

(AQW 955/01)

Mr Dodds: The Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) is the means for measuring the energy efficiency of buildings. The higher the rating, the more energy efficient the building. The average SAP rating for the domestic sector in Northern Ireland has increased from 43 in 1996 to 54 in 2000. In terms of energy consumption this equates to an energy efficiency improvement of 13%.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail the percentage improvement in energy efficiency in the domestic sector since 1996 in each Housing Executive district.

(AQW 956/01)

Mr Dodds: This information is not available in the format requested. However, the Housing Executive in its 2001 progress report on the Home Energy Conservation Strategy indicated that there has been a 13% saving in domestic energy consumption in Northern Ireland since 1996.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development what plans he has to increase the number of fuel poverty projects.

(AQW 957/01)

Mr Dodds: My Department and other key agencies concerned with energy efficiency continually search out new projects to tackle the problem of fuel poverty. However, the principal measure, the new Warm Homes Scheme, launched on 2 July 2001, provides a comprehensive package of heating and insulation measures for owner-occupiers and private sector tenants. Disabled people and families with young children receive insulation in their homes if they are in receipt of certain benefits. Over 60s who receive certain income-based benefits are also entitled to free central heating systems. The scheme operates across the whole of Northern Ireland and replaces the small-scale, geographically based pilots that had been running previously. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive's heating replacement scheme will alleviate fuel poverty amongst social sector tenants. Together the measures provide an effective programme to address the needs of the fuel poor.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail progress on the Economy 7 replacement programme.

(AQW 958/01)

Mr Dodds: Economy 7 heating systems are being replaced as part of the Housing Executive's overall programme to upgrade heating systems. It is therefore not possible to report separately on progress with Economy 7 heating systems. The replacement is progressing satisfactorily and this year a total of some 8800 heating systems will be upgraded.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail, by constituency, the distribution of the 11,224 tenants assisted by home visits through the 'Heat Smart' service administered by Bryson House on behalf of the Housing Executive since April 1999.

(AQW 977/01)

Mr Dodds: This information is not available in the format requested. However, the figures can be broken down on the basis of the areas covered by the three Energy Efficiency Advice Centres (EEACs).

The 11,224 home visits were made in 2000/01 and the breakdown was:

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail, by constituency, the distribution of the 430 dwellings with renovation grants which included cavity wall insulation since 1 April 1998.

(AQW 978/01)

Mr Dodds: This information is not available in the format requested. However, the table below records, by District Council, the percentage distribution of dwellings with renovation grants which included cavity wall insulation since 1 April 1998.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail, by constituency, the distribution of the 1,811 new dwellings built to current energy efficiency standards which replaced old, unfit properties under the Replacement Grant Scheme since April 1996.

(AQW 979/01)

Mr Dodds: This information is not available in the format requested. However, the table below records, by District Council Area, the percentage distribution of new dwellings built to current energy efficiency standards which replaced old, unfit properties under the Replacement Grant Scheme since April 1996.

District Council	Replacement Grants Approved
Antrim	1.1%
Ards	0.8%
Armagh	11.4%
Ballymena	1.5%
Ballymoney	0.8%
Banbridge	2.8%
Belfast	0.4%
Carrickfergus	0.5%
Castlereagh	0.1%
Coleraine	0.6%
Cookstown	3.8%
Craigavon	4.2%
Derry	1.3%
Down	5.3%
Dungannon	7.5%
Fermanagh	28.2%
Larne	1.3%
Limavady	1.7%
Lisburn	2.7%
Magherafelt	3.0%
Moyle	1.3%
Newry & Mourne	9.7%
Newtownabbey	0.4%
North Down	0.0%
Omagh	6.4%
Strabane	3.1%
TOTAL	100.0%

Disabled Facilities Grant

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail, by constituency, the distribution of the 1,862 private houses which had fully controlled oil or natural gas heating systems installed, under the Disabled Facilities Grant since April 1996.

(AQW 980/01)

Mr Dodds: This information is not available in the format requested. However, the table below records, by District Council Area, the percentage distribution of private houses which had fully controlled oil or natural gas heating systems installed under the Disabled Facilities Grant since April 1996.

District Council	Disabled Facilities Grants Oil/Gas heating included
Antrim	2.4%
Ards	3.0%
Armagh	1.9%
Ballymena	2.5%
Ballymoney	0.9%
Banbridge	0.8%
Belfast	27.5%
Carrickfergus	4.1%
Castlereagh	4.9%
Coleraine	2.0%
Cookstown	2.1%
Craigavon	2.3%
Derry	6.4%
Down	2.3%
Dungannon	2.8%
Fermanagh	4.4%
Larne	1.8%
Limavady	1.4%
Lisburn	3.7%
Magherafelt	1.1%
Moyle	1.4%
Newry & Mourne	9.2%
Newtownabbey	6.2%
North Down	1.9%
Omagh	1.3%
Strabane	1.6%
TOTAL	100.0%

Cavity Wall Insulation

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail, by constituency, the distribution of the 1,262 homeowners who had cavity wall insulation installed under the Energy Saving Trust UK-wide Warmth Programme in 2000-01.

(AQW 981/01)

Mr Dodds: This information is not available in the format requested, however, the table below records the number of installations by Northern Ireland postcode.

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development if there is a maximum time for staying in temporary hostel accommodation prior to a move to Housing Executive accommodation.

(AQW 988/01)

Mr Dodds: No. The average waiting time spent in temporary accommodation is 113 days but this can vary from a few days to many months depending on the applicant's area of choice for permanent accommodation. The more popular areas tend to have longer waiting times.

Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister for Social Development what steps he is taking to encourage urban regeneration in the West Tyrone area.

(AQW 996/01)

Mr Dodds: My Department, in partnership with the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), has been working closely with community groups in West Tyrone to regenerate disadvantaged small towns and villages through the Community Regeneration and Improvement Special Programme (CRISP). To date £12 million has been invested in 12 CRISP schemes throughout West Tyrone. Costs are shared equally between my Department and the IFI. Three further schemes are being developed for Sion Mills, Artigarvan and Castlederg.

My Department is also involved in supporting the regeneration of the two larger towns within the constituency, Omagh and Strabane.

In Omagh, an official from my Department sits on the Omagh Taskforce 2010. This group was set up to implement Omagh 2010, an economic and social plan for the town. It incorporates an inspiring and challenging vision of where Omagh will be in the year 2010, key actions to achieve the vision with benchmarks and targets to measure progress. In addition to offering advice the Department is committed to assisting with the running costs of the Taskforce and will contribute up to £75,000 per annum for 3 years. During the last 3 years my Department has been implementing an Environmental Improvement scheme in the Churches area of the town at a total cost of £372,000. There are also plans, subject to budget availability, for a further Environmental Improvement scheme in the town centre, starting, at the earliest, in the 2002-03 financial year.

In Strabane my Department is preparing an Environmental Improvement scheme for John Wesley Street and other areas in Strabane. It is anticipated that the scheme will cost in the region of £100,000 and will be completed by April 2002. My Department has also participated and contributed financially in the Strabane 2000 group. This group is made up of Council and Business people from Strabane. They have developed a strategy document for the town and my Department will continue to advise on the implementation of their proposals.

Under Peace II my Department will shortly be inviting bids from Councils for assistance towards the preparation of plans for the reinvigoration of town centres. Criteria will be based on the need to demonstrate that proposals address the legacy of the conflict and are taking the opportunities arising from peace. Both Omagh and Strabane District Councils will be eligible to apply for funding.

The Housing Executive has also carried out housing and regeneration studies in Strabane and Omagh. The intention of these studies is to identify potential sites for town centre living and provide information for District Councils' regeneration strategies. In addition, areas identified as the most disadvantaged are being targeted by the Housing Executive for neighbourhood renewal programmes.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail, by constituency, from 1998, the distribution of the 1,205 installations of heating controls through the Housing Executive and Northern Ireland Electricity heating control cashback schemes.

(AQW 1001/01)

Mr Dodds: This information is not available in the format requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail, by constituency, to the end of June 2001, the distribution of the 1,200 owner-occupiers who have availed of schemes to help meet the costs of energy-efficient boilers.

(AQW 1002/01)

Mr Dodds: This information is not available in the format requested. However, given that the scheme was designed to provide an incentive to owner occupiers interested in switching to natural gas heating, the only householders who availed of the scheme were within the natural gas licence area of Greater Belfast.

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail, by constituency, to the end of June 2001, the distribution of 2,020 owner-occupiers who have availed of loft insulation under the DEES grant or upgraded to the current accepted standard.

(AQW 1003/01)

Mr Dodds: This information is not held in precisely the form requested. Work under the DEES grant was categorised by postal code areas. However, the table below shows the numbers of loft insulation jobs in each constituency.

Constituency	No of Households
Belfast East	88
Belfast North	242
Belfast South	135
Belfast West	166
East Antrim	121
East Londonderry	109
Fermanagh & South Tyrone	174
Foyle	62
Lagan Valley	50
Mid Ulster	97
Newry and Armagh	205
North Antrim	93
North Down	71
South Antrim	150
South Down	74
Strangford	65
Upper Bann	59
West Tyrone	59

Domestic Energy Efficiency Scheme

Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail, by constituency, the number of Housing Executive properties upgraded to full double glazing standards through availing of the DEES grant during 2000-01.

(AQW 1004/01)

Mr Dodds: The Domestic Energy Efficiency Scheme did not provide for double glazing and consequently no Northern Ireland Housing Executive houses were upgraded to full double-glazing standards under the scheme during 2001. However the Housing Executive does install double-glazing in its own stock under various improvement schemes.

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development what assessment he has made in respect of the impact that the transfer of £19 million from the social security budget will have upon the services offered by the Agency.

(AQW 1007/01)

Mr Dodds: The transfer of £19m from the Social Security budget will have no impact on the services offered by the Agency. The transfer, effective from April 2002, relates to a transfer of Programme Funding from the Social Security Programme Budget to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety due to the new arrangements in the way in which residents of residential homes will be funded from April 2002. There will be no reduction in the administration costs of the Agency.

Mr Seán Neeson asked the Minister for Social Development to detail any plans he has to develop the former Marine Guest House in Carrickfergus as a facility for the homeless.

(AQW 1024/01)

Mr Dodds: The Housing Executive has confirmed that there is a need for temporary accommodation for the homeless in the Carrickfergus area and is considering the former Marine Guest House as a possible facility in this respect. It has commenced a feasibility study which it expects to complete around April this year and should the outcome of the study recommend its use as temporary accommodation, proposals including costings will be put to the Board later in the year.

Mr Gerry Kelly asked the Minister for Social Development if he has any plans to develop a new village centre in Ligoniel on the old Hick Bullicks factory site, including a bridge below the centre linking the proposed new housing to the existing village.

(AQW 1039/01)

Mr Dodds: Officials from the Department for Social Development are scheduled to meet with representatives of the Ligoniel Village Regeneration Partnership on 9 January 2002, to discuss the Ligoniel Village Centre proposal. Following the meeting, my Department will be better placed to decide on whether it wishes to support the proposals.

Mr Gerry Kelly asked the Minister for Social Development to outline the amount of money allocated for the construction of developments in Bryanswell Road, Glenbank and Springbank as part of the Habiteg Special Needs Housing Association and also Habiteg developments in Holywood and Bangor.

(AQW 1055/01)

Mr Dodds: The information requested is contained in the table below. The construction cost figure excludes the cost of land.

Mr Gerry Kelly asked the Minister for Social Development to outline the amount of money allocated for maintenance programmes for Glenbank and Springbank developments.

(AQW 1056/01)

Mr Dodds: The information requested is set out in the table below. The expenditure covers the 5-year period 1997/98 to 2001/02.

NOTE: Springbank major repair expenditure relates to 77 houses, the remainder having been sold since the original schemes completed.

Habinteg now has 38 dwellings at Glenbank.

Maintenance expenditure refers to the day-to-day cyclical maintenance required to keep the property operational. Adaptations are works carried out to meet the specific needs of tenants with a physical disability. Major repairs are those works required when elements of a property have come to the end of their useful life.

Within the past two years Habinteg has commenced a major programme of work to refurbish the properties in its oldest schemes. Work at Valentine Court, Bangor and Sullivan Close, Holywood is already complete and the work at Springbank, which started in January 2001, is due to complete in May 2002.

At all three locations the works include upgrading of heating systems and replacement of windows and doors. Internally, new kitchens and sanitary equipment has been installed. Work has also been carried out to install smoke detectors and extractor fans. Other miscellaneous works have also been carried out. When Springbank is complete, all the refurbished properties will have been brought up to modern day standards.

Mr Gerry Kelly asked the Minister for Social Development to outline what money has been allocated on an ongoing basis for Glenbank and Springbank developments.

(AQW 1057/01)

Mr Dodds: The Glenbank scheme was built to a higher specification than Springbank and it already has double glazed UPVC windows, better quality bathrooms and kitchens etc. Of the 38 dwellings still in Habinteg's ownership 22 have been converted to oil fired central heating as and when required by tenants. No full-scale major repairs programme is envisaged but upgrading work will be carried out on an incremental basis as required. The major refurbishment at Springbank is nearing completion. It is therefore envisaged that only routine maintenance and adaptations will be required at these estates and the properties will be assessed continually by Habinteg to determine what works if any are needed. Any necessary work will be funded as required from the Association's maintenance budget.

Mr Gerry Kelly asked the Minister for Social Development to give a breakdown of the expenditure for the Belfast Regeneration Office for the 2001 financial year.

(AQW 1061/01)

Mr Dodds: The table below gives a breakdown of the expenditure by the Belfast Regeneration Office from 1 April 2001 to date.

Mr Alex Maskey asked the Minister for Social Development to list, by constituency, the number of houses purchased by the Housing Executive under the Special Purchase of Evacuated Dwellings during the past 2 years.

(AQW 1071/01)

Mr Dodds: The information is not available by constituency. The purchases by Housing Executive District Office for the 12 month period 1 December to 30 November in each of the last 2 years are as follows:

Housing Executive District Office	Dec 99-Nov 00	Dec 00-Nov 01
Belfast 1
Belfast 2		1
Belfast 3		1
Belfast 4	4	6
Belfast 5	3	8
Belfast 6	3	16
Belfast 7	2	5
Bangor	4	5
N'ards	2	2
Castlereagh	4	4
Lisburn	4	2
Downpatrick		1
Banbridge	1	4
Newry		1
Armagh	3	6
Lurgan/Brownlow	3	1
Portadown	4	4
Dungannon		1
Fermanagh	2
Ballymena	5	9
Antrim	9	6
N'abbey 1	4	3
N'abbey 2	1	5
Carrickfergus	10	12
Larne	7	8
Ballycastle		1
Ballymoney	1
Coleraine	2	3
L'derry 2		5
Limavady		1
Omagh		4
Cookstown	1
Total	79	125

Retirement Pension

Mr John Fee asked the Minister for Social Development to detail, for each of the past 5 years (a) how many women and (b) how many men, failed to claim their retirement pension when they reached pension age.

(AQW 1085/01)

Mr Dodds: It is not known how many people failed to claim their Retirement Pension when they reached pension age (65 for men, 60 for women).

Mr John Fee asked the Minister for Social Development to detail for each of the past 5 years (a) the percentage of women and (b) the percentage of men, approaching pension age who were notified of their entitlement to retirement pension.

(AQW 1086/01)

Mr Dodds: The Agency does not hold figures on the percentage of women and men approaching pension age who were notified of their entitlement to Retirement Pension over the last five years.

Mr John Fee asked the Minister for Social Development how Social Security Agency staff ensure that claimants receive their full entitlement to all benefits.

(AQW 1089/01)

Mr Dodds: Front-line staff in the Social Security Agency are trained to provide information, advice and assistance to customers across a wide range of benefits. They also have Information Technology support in the form of the Integrated Benefit Information System (IBIS), an up to date reference library of all social security benefits.

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development to detail the number of houses owned by the Housing Executive, by district council area, in the year 2001.

(AQW 1129/01)

Mr Dodds: The current stock by District Council area at 30 November 2001 is as follows:

Council Area	Number
Antrim	3,300
Ards	4,910
Armagh	2,546
Ballymena	3,943
Ballymoney	1,811
Banbridge	2,292
Bangor	3,460
Belfast	29,939
Carrickfergus	2,707
Castlereagh	4,850
Coleraine	3,891
Cookstown	1,418
Craigavon	5,601
Downpatrick	3,196
Dungannon	2,341
Fermanagh	2,693
Larne	2,096
Limavady	1,865
Lisburn	8,259
Londonderry	9,460
Magherafelt	1,739
Moyle	1,056
Newry	4,242
Newtownabbey	5,678
Omagh	2,362
Strabane	2,904
Total	118,559

Allocation of Social Housing Tenancies

Mr David Hilditch asked the Minister for Social Development to give his assessment of the new points system for the allocation of public housing by the Housing Executive.

(AQW 1136/01)

Mr Dodds: Since November 2000, allocations of all social housing tenancies have been made from a common waiting list and a Common Selection Scheme operated by the Housing Executive and housing associations. The scheme provides for the award of points to applicants for housing need factors such as insecurity of tenure, housing conditions, and health/social well being, with the overall accumulation of points determining the position and ranking of an applicant on the waiting list.

The aim of the new scheme is to ensure that the allocation of all social housing is made on a fair and equitable basis, with housing more closely matched to the needs of applicants. There are no indications that the scheme is failing to deliver this, however, prior to implementation of the scheme, it was recognised that after a reasonable period of operation, an evaluation would be necessary, to confirm if the new scheme was fully meeting its aim. The early stages of that evaluation commenced in December 2001. Its administration will involve the Housing Executive, the housing association movement and the Department. It is envisaged that the findings of the evaluation will be summarised and circulated for wide consultation during April/ May 2002.

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