HC Deb 30 March 1988 vol 130 c561W
Mr. Beggs

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will inquire into the conditions of hallway floors and walls and the lift walls and floors since the contractors moved into the multi-storey blocks of flats at Rush Park, Newtownabbey, County Antrim; whether damage could have been diminished by the use of a small skip inside these buildings as recommended by the tenants to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and its consultants; and whether the use of a small skip would have assisted workmen in clearing up nightly and would have facilitated the caretaker in maintaining high standards of upkeep.

Dr. Mawhinney

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive who has advised me that a skip could not be used inside the multistorey blocks of flats at Rush Park, Newtownabbey. Doors would have had to be removed and the lifting of the skips would have been impossible. Each floor being worked on is cleaned on a daily basis by the contractor who removes all debris to outside skips.

Mr. Beggs

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will inquire into the level of nuisance and disturbance, damage and general uncleanliness experienced at Rush Park, Newtownabbey, during installation of economy seven, rewiring and fitting new kitchens; what standards of work and cleanliness for work carried out by contractors for public bodies his Department lays down; and what procedures he advises the Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants to follow when they observe damage being caused by contractors to floors, walls, lifts and security doors in blocks of flats or other property.

Dr. Mawhinney

These are matters for the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive who has advised me that the level of disturbance experienced at Rush park, Newtownabbey, is commensurate with a major contract of this type. Standards of work and cleanliness are set by the Housing Executive within contract documentation. All materials must be to the Executive's approved specification and works must be executed by competent tradesmen in workmanlike manner and to the satisfaction of the supervising officer in all respects. The contractor is responsible for removal of rubbish, debris, sawdust and surplus material, and so on, from the site, both as it accumulates from time to time and at completion. Prior to work commencing tenants were advised at a series of meetings of the procedures to follow if they observed damage being caused by the contractor. They were informed that details should be reported to the Housing Executive district office or to the clerk of works who is regularly on site.