§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the Northern Ireland Housing Executive monitors the community background of contractors to which it awards work. [125312]
§ Mr. SpellarThe Northern Ireland Housing Executive, in line with other public sector bodies, does not monitor the community background of contractors to which it awards work. However, there is a requirement that all contractors sign a Fair Employment Declaration which must be submitted with each tender. The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland monitors contractors' compliance with current employment legislation.
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§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many contracts have been awarded by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for all types of work in each year since 1997. [125313]
§ Mr. SpellarThe number of contracts awarded is as follows:
Number 1997–98 599 1998–99 390 1990–2000 342 2000–01 270 2001–02 257 2002–03 292 Adaptation work (which is not included in the table) is let as individual schemes under 'umbrella' contracts. There are currently 91 'umbrella' contracts ongoing. These are let on a one-year term, renewable for up to five years. This figure would be similar for each year from 1997–98.
In addition, at any given time there are some 750 ongoing response maintenance contracts. These contracts are let for periods of between one and five years and are re-tendered on expiry.