Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“As the Assembly Answer below confirms I have established that despite no sittings of the Assembly, Stormont is still paying over £32,000 per month to a broadcasting company.
“Such squander is staggering. What sort of a contract did the Assembly Commission negotiate if it requires payment for no output?
“Hospital waiting lists grow, schools are cash strapped, but the Assembly can pay out almost £400,000 per annum to have broadcasting facilities for an empty chamber. Little wonder Stormont is held in such disrepute. It is time The Assembly Commission got real. The meagre 7.5% reduction for no output is derisory. The taxpayer is being ripped off.”
Note to editors
Mr Allister’s question and the answer received is as follows:
To ask the Assembly Commission (i) the current cost; and (ii) position with the broadcasting contract.
The Assembly Commission agreed a variation to the Broadcasting Contract at its meeting on 5 July 2017. The variation of a reduction of 7.5% to the existing monthly contract fee was initially agreed for a period of 3 months until 10 October. The decision to agree to extend the variation for a further 3 month period until 10 January 2018, should it be required, was agreed at the most recent Assembly Commission meeting which took place on 25 September 2017.
The normal monthly costs of the current Broadcasting Contract are £34,850.84. Under the current variation the monthly cost is £32,237.03.
This reduction in costs, does not adversely impact upon Pi Communications Ltd in maintaining its services and Assembly equipment in a state of operational readiness, which facilitates an immediate return to the specified requirements for normal Assembly business.