After reading through the Building bye-laws several times, I realised that the structure of No. 56 Carlisle Park did not comply with a number of the bye-laws.

I approached Dr. Paisley MP and he asked me to make out a list of bye-law contraventions and he would bring the matter up in Parliament.

I was delighted at the prospect of this, but I was not prepared for the outcome of Dr. Paisley's generous offer.

I totalled up eight bye-laws which I was sure had been broken in the building of No. 56. I posted my home-work to Dr. Paisley.

Dr. Paisley sent me this Parliamentary Written Reply dated March 17th 1981 which he obtained from the British House of Commons:

"17 MARCH 1981
Written No 30
THE REVEREND IAN PAISLEY (North Antrim):
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, why subsidy was paid on 56 Carlisle Park, Ballynahinch, in view of the fact that the loadbearing walls contain materials for which no British Standard exists, and whose structure violates byelaws 11, 14, 16, 31, 57, 46, 47 and 53.

MR. MITCHELL
Pursuant to his reply, 16 March 1981 (Official Report, c )[n:
Payment of private enterprise housing subsidy is a responsibility for local authorities in Northern Ireland.
I am advised that the former East Down Rural District Council paid subsidy in respect of 56 Carlisle Park, Ballynahinch, on 13 March 1972 on being satisfied that the dwelling conformed to specifications and plans which the Council had approved under the Housing (Owner Occupation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1956."

This really was something new to me. Nowhere in all my dealings with Down District Council or the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints or other government departments or anyone else had these Housing (Owner Occupation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1956 ever been mentioned.