§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what architects are employed in public service in Northern Ireland; what guidance is given to them on taking up employment with regard to a code of conduct; and what administrative controls are exercised to ensure that there is no collusion with architects in private practice on the pricing of contracts.
§ Mr. DunnThere are 86 qualified architects in the Northern Ireland Civil538W Service employed in the Departments of Finance, Health and Social Services and Environment, all of whom are required to conform to the conditions of service imposed upon all civil servants. These include the following requirements:
An officer must give his whole time to the official duties assigned to him. He must not at any time engage in any activity which would impair his usefulness as a public servant nor engage in any occupation which might in any way conflict with the interest of his department or be inconsistent with his position as a public servant. If he is in any doubt about the propriety of engaging in any outside activity or occupation he should seek the prior permission of his department.In addition, all would have received a copy of the new entrants' handbook, which lays down similar requirements.
The pricing of contracts is a matter for contractors in competition with each other and does not involve architects either in the public or private sector.