To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2007, Official Report, column 1517W, on the A69: Greenhead, whether the A69 Greenhead diversion scheme contract obliged the Northumberland county council engineer to obtain prior approval from officials of her Department before certifying for payment ICE contract clause 60(6) interest. (148579)

The contract did not oblige the engineer to obtain prior approval from the Department for Transport before he made a certificate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2007, Official Report, column 1517W, on the A69: Greenhead, whether her Department authorised the Northumberland county council engineer to certify for payment £103,974.92 clause 60(6) interest in connection with the A69 Greenhead diversion scheme. (148580)

There was no legal requirement on the engineer to seek prior approval from the department before he made a certificate. If the engineer had nonetheless done so, the contract would not have obliged him to take any notice of the department’s response.