Mr. A. Cecil Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why the design for the Eastern health and social services board headquarters was given to a Dublin-based company; what Northern Ireland companies were considered; and why they were not employed.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe Department of Health and Social Services invited proposals from developers for the provision of office accommodation in central Belfast. It was entirely a matter for the developers to decide whether, and if so whom, to appoint as professional advisers for this purpose.
A total of 23 separate developers responded to the Department's request for proposals:
- 17 were based in Northern Ireland;
- 4 were based in England; and
- 2 were based in Scotland.
These were assessed by a professional team, assisted by two eminent architects in practice in Great Britain, on the basis of cost, design, construction time, and the proven ability of the developer to carry through a scheme of this size.
The contract for the building was awarded to John Graham (Dromore) Limited a Northern Ireland-based company with wide experience in construction projects.
The developer's team of professional advisers included an architectural practice of international repute with offices in both London and Dublin. All the other professional advisers are based in Northern Ireland and all the proposed subcontractors are Northern Ireland-based companies.