Housing Executive (Hansard, 8 July 1988)

§ Mr. William Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, further to his answers to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East regarding Housing Executive contracts on 23 March,Official Report, column 169, and 29 April, Official Report, columns 304–6, he will indicate the reasons why the sums due to the contractors for contract D were not paid on a monthly basis as per normal contract conditions and why payment of £18,084 was delayed for 14 months after the end of the contract period; if he will show for that contract how much of the sums due at the end of each month were paid and how much not paid, or as much of such information as is available to him; and if he will show for that contract the contract price, the total actually paid to complete the contract including sums awarded at arbitration, the date of final payment and the date of practical completion.

§ Mr. Needham
[holding answer 21 June 1988]: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I have been advised by the chief executive that payments were generally made in accordance with the terms of contract. In most cases payments were made monthly and in all cases payments were made within 14 days of amounts due being agreed with the contractor. No sums due were deliberately withheld and no amount of £18,084 was withheld for 14 months after the end of the contract period. Payments were made to the contractor during this period as the final account was progressively agreed. The other details requested are:

1. contract price: £125,531.85

2. total sums paid to complete the contract, including sums awarded at arbitration: £164,384

3. date of final payment: 12 May 1987

4. date of practical completion: 20 September 1983

§ Mr. William Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, further to his answers to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East regarding Housing Executive contracts on 23 March,Official Report, column 787W 169, and 29 April, Official Report, columns 304–6, he will indicate the reasons why the sums due to the contractors for contract C were not paid on a monthly basis as per normal contract conditions and why payment of £47,585 was not paid for 16 months after the end of the contract period; if he will show for that contract how much of the sums due at the end of each month were paid, and how much not paid, or as much of such information as is available to him; and if he will show for that contract the contract price, the total sums actually paid to complete the contract, including sums awarded at arbitration, the date of final payment and the date of practical completion.

§ Mr. Needham
[holding answer 21 June 1988]: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I have been advised by the Chief Executive that payments were generally made in accordance with the terms of contract. In most cases payments were made monthly and in all cases payments were made within 14 days of amounts due being agreed with the contractor. No sums due were deliberately withheld and no amount of £47,585 was withheld for 16 months after the end of the contract period. Payments were made to the contractor during this period as the final account was progressively agreed. The other details requested are:

1. contract price: £202,056

2. total sums paid to complete the contract, including sums awarded at arbitration: £209,585.35

3. date of final payment: 20 January 1987

4. date of practical completion: 26 April 1982

§ Mr. William Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, further to his answers to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East of 29 April,Official Report, columns 304–6, if he will indicate who is responsible for the technical audit in the Housing Executive and to whom they report; whether the technical audit forms part of the general audit, published for public inspection; and when and where members of the public may inspect it.

§ Mr. Needham
[holding answer 21 June 1988]: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I have been advised by the chief executive that technical audit is the responsibility of the director of technical services who reports directly to the chief executive. Technical audit does not form part of the general audit and is not available for public inspection.