Michael Copeland MLA, Ulster Unionist Social Development Committee Member, has responded to the Investigation into Planned Maintenance Contracts.
Mr Copeland said:
“Given the findings of the report, the onus is now on the Minister to urgently come before the House and provide a statement. I believe that the report presented to the Committee today is deeply flawed and has generated more questions than answers; he should urgently move to provide clarity.
“In June we had a furore after a statement to the Assembly from the Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland to the House over an alleged £18million in overpayments by NIHE to four contractors which he named. The report shows that there was no evidence of fraud or corruption.
“It was totally wrong for the Minister to use legal privilege in the Assembly to name the four companies in question.
“The report shows that the figure of £18million was presented to the board as a 'broad brush' estimate that should be refined as more evidence was generated. Why did the figure of £18million ever come into the public domain? Once again, Nelson McCausland has many questions to answer."