Corporation had never been a tenant, Works and Engineering Minister CV (Jim) Woolridge told MPs last night.

Mr Woolridge told the House of Assembly he had asked the woman why she branded him "insensitive'' in an interview.

He said she answered that she had "been told'' to say that.

"If she is not a tenant, how could she be evicted? I saw an envelope, folded, but I didn't see a letter.'' He added: "It's my understanding there has been no evictions in the last 12 months. We try to bring people in and reason with them.'' And he repeated that "an extreme level of irresponsibility'' was required for an eviction to take place.

Mr. Woolridge -- referring to a demonstration last week outside the House by people pleading for affordable housing -- was speaking as he put his Ministry's Budget to MPs.

He said: "She is not a tenant, so I think it's important these points be made.

"We have a great responsibility at the Housing Corporation and the work it does is as important as it ever was.'' He added he had been attacked in the House for "not being aware'' that people were being evicted from Corporation properties. But Mr. Woolridge hit back that it was the responsibility of Civil Servants to take these kinds of decisions and it was better the Minister not be involved in case of accusations of political bias.

He said: "It's important -- there are folk who tend to exploit these people for whatever reason, I don't know.'' But Shadow Works and Engineering Minister Stanley Morton said he was obliged to speak out when he was approached by the public about "a crisis in confidence'' over Government's housing policy. He added: "I don't doubt that there are people who are careless, but these are real people and there is a formula for fixing every situation which may occur.'' He added he had not put anyone up to anything and added: "I am not afraid to tell someone to use my name -- I have no fear about that.'' But Mr. Woolridge said afterwards: "It was a set-up down there -- it was terrible.'' He explained he had contacted Corporation officials after the TV interview to ask why the woman had been evicted.

He added: "I said I had to look into this -- we are not going to put someone out in the rain. We're not going to put anyone out except in extraordinary circumstances.

Mr. Woolridge said Corporation officials "knew the name of the woman -- she was not evicted because she is not a tenant.'' HOUSING HSG