Ms Derville Rowland:

We were supportive of a scheme being established, as it has been, that recognised this is an extraordinary event for the families facing it. We had a number of meetings over time with groups, representatives and the financial services players in this. We understood the scheme was up and running and that a problem-centred approach was being taken within the confines of the scheme. I understand, from the information I have, there are a number of issues arising in the scheme. I have heard talk about mortgageability, which is to do with documentation and engineer's reports so people can sell their houses once they have been remediated. I had understood those matters would be dealt with within the scheme, but the Deputy might know more about that than me. I am not party to the running of the scheme, which is outside of the financial system. However, we were supportive of the insurers and banks coming together with the scheme to look at the issues arising. I had understood those issues were arising under what I call a bucket or a broad heading of financial conditions such as terms and conditions of mortgages.

I had heard of issues where, for example, a house had been demolished and there was concern that one of the terms in the mortgage condition document stated how the house should obviously be there and not demolished. Approaches have been taken to address the exceptional circumstances of this. Letters of comfort or assurances have been given that those kinds of covenants or conditions would not be enforced under those specific circumstances. I had understood that quite a lot of issues had been addressed. Reassurance and assurance had been given about the myriad issues that had been arising, and they were being addressed within the confines of the scheme. I had understood they were being dealt with and a lot of progress had been made. I do not want there to be issues left over, but if the Deputy is telling me there are matters the scheme has not yet addressed or sought to address we will be supportive, helpful and constructive in any way we can.

If more needs to be done to fill specific gaps we will constructively engage, which we have done already. We had understood that which we said would be a good thing to happen, which is that all these complexities around finance would be addressed in a collective way in the scheme, was happening. I understood that a lot of progress had been made around some of the key issues and since then nobody has raised residual issues not being addressed in the scheme with us.