Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Streatham and Croydon North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the long term financial viability of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
Answered by John Penrose
The Department for Communities in Northern Ireland sponsors the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. It is Northern Ireland’s largest social landlord and provides 86,000 social homes. This is 1 in 9 of all homes in Northern Ireland.
I am aware that officials in the Department for Communities have carried out work to assess the financial requirements of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. Any changes in response to this assessment are rightly the responsibility of the devolved Stormont Assembly and Executive. In the absence of an Executive, this is a matter for the Permanent Secretary of the Department within the limits of the EFEF Act.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Streatham and Croydon North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will conduct a public inquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.
Answered by James Brokenshire
I have been engaging with Northern Ireland political leaders and others about the current political tensions to encourage resolution. The Renewable Heating Initiative scheme was, and remains an entirely devolved issue, and it is primarily the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly to take the necessary action to address the concerns that have been expressed about it, including on deciding the form of any investigation or inquiry into the scheme.
The UK Government has a primary role in providing political stability in Northern Ireland and we will do all that we can to help the parties find a resolution. I would urge Northern Ireland’s political leaders to take the necessary steps to work together to find a way forward and I will continue to work with all parties and the Irish Government to that end. I stand ready to convene discussions to identify a way forward which all parties can agree to.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Streatham and Croydon North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he was first made aware of the overspend of the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.
Answered by James Brokenshire
I have been engaging with Northern Ireland political leaders and others about the current political tensions to encourage resolution. The Renewable Heating Initiative scheme was, and remains an entirely devolved issue, and it is primarily the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly to take the necessary action to address the concerns that have been expressed about it, including on deciding the form of any investigation or inquiry into the scheme.
The UK Government has a primary role in providing political stability in Northern Ireland and we will do all that we can to help the parties find a resolution. I would urge Northern Ireland’s political leaders to take the necessary steps to work together to find a way forward and I will continue to work with all parties and the Irish Government to that end. I stand ready to convene discussions to identify a way forward which all parties can agree to.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Streatham and Croydon North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department supports the closure of the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.
Answered by James Brokenshire
I have been engaging with Northern Ireland political leaders and others about the current political tensions to encourage resolution. The Renewable Heating Initiative scheme was, and remains an entirely devolved issue, and it is primarily the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly to take the necessary action to address the concerns that have been expressed about it, including on deciding the form of any investigation or inquiry into the scheme.
The UK Government has a primary role in providing political stability in Northern Ireland and we will do all that we can to help the parties find a resolution. I would urge Northern Ireland’s political leaders to take the necessary steps to work together to find a way forward and I will continue to work with all parties and the Irish Government to that end. I stand ready to convene discussions to identify a way forward which all parties can agree to.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Streatham and Croydon North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to reduce the cost to the public purse as a result of the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme overspend.
Answered by James Brokenshire
I have been engaging with Northern Ireland political leaders and others about the current political tensions to encourage resolution. The Renewable Heating Initiative scheme was, and remains an entirely devolved issue, and it is primarily the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly to take the necessary action to address the concerns that have been expressed about it, including on deciding the form of any investigation or inquiry into the scheme.
The UK Government has a primary role in providing political stability in Northern Ireland and we will do all that we can to help the parties find a resolution. I would urge Northern Ireland’s political leaders to take the necessary steps to work together to find a way forward and I will continue to work with all parties and the Irish Government to that end. I stand ready to convene discussions to identify a way forward which all parties can agree to.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Streatham and Croydon North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of Northern Ireland on the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.
Answered by James Brokenshire
I have been engaging with Northern Ireland political leaders and others about the current political tensions to encourage resolution. The Renewable Heating Initiative scheme was, and remains an entirely devolved issue, and it is primarily the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly to take the necessary action to address the concerns that have been expressed about it, including on deciding the form of any investigation or inquiry into the scheme.
The UK Government has a primary role in providing political stability in Northern Ireland and we will do all that we can to help the parties find a resolution. I would urge Northern Ireland’s political leaders to take the necessary steps to work together to find a way forward and I will continue to work with all parties and the Irish Government to that end. I stand ready to convene discussions to identify a way forward which all parties can agree to.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Streatham and Croydon North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much her Department spent on (a) focus groups and (b) surveys in (i) 2013 and (ii) 2014 to date.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
My Department has not incurred any costs in respect of expenditure on focus groups or surveys during 2013 and to date in 2014.