Alliance Social Development spokesperson Stewart Dickson MLA has asked the Social Development Minister whether he ordered a letter to the Social Development Committee to be changed to make it appear that he had met the Glass and Glazing Federation instead of Turkington Holdings in relation to his decision to stop a double glazing contract for Housing Executive properties.

Stewart put the question to the Minister twice during Question Time in the Assembly on Tuesday, but the Minister said he wouldn't answer the question until he appeared before Social Development Committee inquiry in December.

-- Advertisement --

Stewart Dickson MLA said: "If the Minister has nothing to hide, then why did he not answer my question? It appears from an email and in evidence to the inquiry, that the Minister's office asked for a letter to be changed to make it appear that he had met the Glass and Glazing Federation instead of Turkington Holdings in relation to a Housing Executive contract.

"I asked a straightforward question; either he ordered the change or he didn't. Minister McCausland is refusing to reveal whether he was the person who asked for this change to be made.

"The Minister has said that he will answer these questions when he appears at the Social Development Committee inquiry next month. It seems that he would prefer to leave a dark cloud of suspicion hang over his head rather than provide a clear answer to my questions."

(CD/MH)