To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy to institute the practice of a technical audit for Housing Executive contracts, as recommended by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.

[holding answer 19 April 1988]: The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has already developed a system for the audit of its building contracts in line with the recommendations of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.

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 give the actual sums paid at arbitration for (a) the clerks of works, (b) legal fees, (c) technical costs and (d) staff costs.

[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 no specific sums were paid at arbitration for the clerks of works; technical costs or staff costs. The following costs were paid by the Housing Executive in respect of contractors legal fees for each of the contracts concerned:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, further to his answer of 23 March to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East, 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 (a) acceptance of tender, (b) the contract sum, (c) the contract period and (d) the date of possession of site.

[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 information is as follows: