Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the total number of complaints received by the bodies responsible for repairs in respect of houses at Lincoln Court, Londonderry, from the time the first house was occupied until 31st December 1974; or, if the figure from individuals is not available, how many were received from the tenants' association in this area;
(2) what is the estimated cost of correcting the defects in the sewerage system of the houses of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive at Lincoln Court, Kilfennan, Londonderry; and what is the number of houses involved;
(3) what is the estimated cost of correcting the defects in the houses belonging
428Wbeen spent by the Government in each of the last five years on public relations broken down into salaries, fees and other headings.
§ Mr. Charles R. Morris, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23rd January 1975; Vol. 884, c. 472], circulated the following information:
Public relations is a term of art and is only incidentally part of the task performed by the Government Information Services. No external public relations organisation is employed by any Government Department, so the question of fees does not arise.
The total provision for expenditure on the Home Information Services is as follows:
to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive at Lincoln Court, Kilfennan, Londonderry, excluding cost of correcting the defects in the sewerage system;
(4) what was the cost of building the houses at Lincoln Court, Kilfennan, Londonderry;
(5) when the houses at Lincoln Court, Kilfennan, Londonderry, were completed; and when the final payment was made to the contractors who finished them;
(6) whether the normal procedures and timing of payments to the contractors were adhered to regarding the payment for the houses at Lincoln Court, Londonderry;
(7) whether any special difficulties were encountered during the building of the houses at Lincoln Court, Londonderry; who were responsible for the original contract; had the firm which was granted that contract any previous experience in the building of an estate of this size; and were any public figures or public representatives, then, or subsequently, members or directors of that firm.
§ Mr. MoyleThe following information has been obtained from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
429WIt is regretted that information about the total number of complaints could not be provided without disproportionate effort. The estimated cost of correcting the defects in the houses is not available. So far about £4,000 has been spent on correcting defects in the sewerage system which has affected all 237 houses in the development to a certain extent.
The contract for building the houses was let for £892,305.15 and the last house was handed over on 7th September 1972. The normal procedures and timing of payments have been adhered to in accordance with the standard form of building contract which was signed by the contracting parties. The final payment to the contractors has not yet been made.
The area round the site was affected by civil unrest, and labour and material were in short supply. The former Londonderry County Borough Council was responsible for letting the contract. The firm engaged had previous experience in building large estates.
Information regarding memberships and directorships of the firm of contractors can be obtained from the Companies Registry, Department of Commerce, Belfast.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects a community centre to be provided at Lincoln Court, Londonderry.
§ Mr. MoyleThe Londonderry District Council plans to begin work on a permanent centre, to serve the Lincoln Court and Waterside Triangle areas, during 1976.