East Belfast MLA Michael Copeland has expressed his shock at confirmation from the Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland that the Housing Selection Scheme operated by the Housing Executive discriminates against existing and former members of the armed forces who are, or have been based in Northern Ireland.   

Mr Copeland, who is the Ulster Unionist Party’s spokesperson on Social Development issues, said;

“I recently tabled a question to the Social Development Minister asking how he ensures that existing and former members of the armed forces are not disadvantaged in accessing social housing?

I was extremely concerned by the Minister’s answer which referred to the Housing Executive’s Housing Selection Scheme and stated “The work to date has identified an aspect of the Scheme that has the potential to prevent existing and former members of the armed forces who are, or have been based in Northern Ireland from applying for social housing here."

I find this not only deeply worrying but an absolute scandal. For decades we have had heard bureaucrats and the human rights industry lecture us on the importance of equality  particularly with regard to Housing – indeed that was why the Housing Executive was established - yet we now learn that discrimination was practiced against existing and former members of the armed forces who are or have been based here in Northern Ireland.   

I shall be pursuing this matter with the Minister and seeking to find out exactly how this situation arose, for how long it existed, how many people were disadvantaged by it, and why nothing was done sooner to remedy the matter?”