asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how much money is owed by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to tenants as rebates on their district heating payments for the last financial year;(2) to how many people district heating rebates are currently due; and what are the average levels of such rebates.

These are matters for the Housing Executive but I understand from the chairman that some £906,000 is due to 4,469 tenants, representing an average rebate of £203. About one third of the total amount due will, however, be credited to tenants' district heating accounts to offset existing arrears of payments due to the Executive.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further measures are being taken to seek to expedite the payment of district heating rebates to Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants.

This is a matter for the Housing Executive but I understand from the chairman that procedural and systems improvements made by the Executive and its district heating metering agents should enable earlier payment of district heating rebates in 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when district heating rebates due from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive were paid in 1982, 1983 and 1984; and when will they be paid in the current year.

This is a matter for the Housing Executive but I understand from the chairman that for the years in question the periods over which rebates were paid were as follows: