Mr. John McCarthy:

What is being proceeded with is the project as we have known it. The contractual terms, etc. are the issue that has been the subject of the re-engagement process with the private partner. The local government audit service's 2011 report is a demonstration of the extent to which the accountability arrangements through that channel work. What the auditor had to say in the 2012 report was evidence of this.

In terms of general oversight, the Local Government Reform Act which has now been implemented has introduced a number of elements to strengthen the oversight role, not least in putting internal audit committees on a statutory footing and requiring engagement between the auditor and the audit committee during the audit process. There have been a number of further strengthenings of the audit system. On the issue of following central government money into the project, apart from the initial funding provided which was not for construction, there is no central government funding going towards the project.