Housing Executive (Arbitrations)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East on 23 March, Official Report, column 169, about the Housing Executive, regarding the four arbitrations referred to, he will indicate (a) the contractual date for completion and (b) the contractual date for final measurements for each of the contracts concerned.

[holding answer 19 April 1988]: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I have been advised by the chief executive that the contractual dates for completion and final measurement respectively for each of the four contracts were:—

(a) 18 November 1980 and 18 May 1981;

(b) 13 August 1984: no specific date for final measurement was required in this form of demolition contract;

(c) 17 December 1981 and 17 June 1982;

(d) 9 October 1982 and 9 April 1983.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East of 23 March, Official Report, column 169, about the Housing Executive, regarding the four arbitrations referred to, he will indicate for each of the contracts concerned the amount of the bills of adjustments.

[holding answer 19 April 1988]: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I have been advised by the chief executive that the amounts of the bills of adjustment for each of the contracts concerned were:—

(a) £261,359·00

(b) £163,780·84

(c) £209,585·35

(d) £164,384·00

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many contractors began arbitration between themselves and the Housing Executive in the financial year 1986–87; what were the total sums claimed; how many of these arbitration proceedings were settled and at what cost to the executive during that year; and how many have been settled to date.

[holding answer 19 April 1988]: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I have been advised by the chief executive that eight contractors began arbitration in the year 1986–87; the total sum claimed was approximately £1·52 million; three of these arbitration proceedings were settled in 1986–87 at a total cost to the Housing Executive of approximately £34,420; and a total of five have been settled to date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East on 23 March, Official Report, column 169, about the Housing Executive, regarding the four arbitrations referred to, he will for each of the contracts concerned indicate the amount certified at the dates of completion certificates.

[holding answer 19 April 1988]: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I have been advised by the chief executive that the following amounts were certified at practical completion for each of the contracts concerned:

(a) £188,473·43

(b) £146,780·84: no provision was made in this type of demolition contract for a certificate of practical completion. This amount was determined when the contractor deemed the contract to have been completed.

(c) £162,000.

(d) £146,300.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East on 23 March, Official Report, column 169, about the Housing Executive regarding the four arbitrations referred to, he will for each of the contracts concerned indicate the amount granted at arbitration and whether these amounts are included in the sums paid in respect of the bills of adjustments.

[holding answer 19 April 1988]: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I have been advised by the chief executive that the following amounts were agreed in settlement between the parties for each of the contracts concerned and were included in the sums paid in respect of the bills of adjustment:

(a) £9,500.

(b) £17,000.

(c) £12,420.

(d) £5,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East on 23 March, Official Report, column 169, about the Housing Executive, regarding the four arbitrations referred to, he will indicate for each of the contracts concerned the date of the certificate of practical completion.

[holding answer 19 April 1988]: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I have been advised by the chief executive that the dates of the certificate of practical completion for each of the contracts concerned were:

(a) 22 January 1982;

(b) No specific date;

(c) 26 April 1982;

(d) 20 September 1983.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East, on 23 March, OfficialReport, column 169, about the Housing Executive, regarding the four arbitrations referred to, he will for each of the contracts concerned define the major points of claim.

[holding answer 19 April 1988]: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I have been advised by the chief executive that the major points of claim for each of the contracts concerned were as follows:

(a) Alleged failure to give possession of site; delay and disruption; failure to measure and value; breach of contract.

(b) Alleged failure to give full vacant possession.

(c) Alleged delay in nomination; water damage, delay and disruption; repayment of liquidated damages.

(d) Alleged failure to give possession; delay and disruption; late nomination; failure to provide information; delays in payments; negligence; breach of contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East, on 23 March, Official Report, column 169, about the Housing Executive, regarding the four arbitrations referred to, he will for each of the contracts concerned indicate the actual date of final measurement.

[holding answer 19 April 1988]: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I have been advised by the chief executive that the actual dates of final measurement for each of the four contracts concerned were:

(a) June 1983;

(b) March 1987;

(c) August 1983;

(d) October 1984.

Volume 132: debated on Friday 29 April 1988