Mr. Robert Watt:

I am not refusing to answer any questions. I have appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts and the health committee previously on this for a whole day. Our colleagues have appeared many times to discuss the children's hospital. I do not think it is a fair characterisation to say we are not willing to answer questions on it. We have done so repeatedly. I am very happy to do it today again if the Deputy wishes. I am happy to discuss the costs.

The different factors that have increased the cost of this hospital are well known. The risks that now relate to finishing out this contract relate to inflation. There is a provision within the contract for paying an amount above the prescribed 4.5% that is in the contract. There are delays in the contract that will of necessity push out the cost because it will need to be managed for a further period.

Then there is the issue of claims. I sent a note to the committee setting out the detail of the claims, the scale of the claims, some settlement of the claims that have taken place and so on. It is our judgment and it is not a clear decision absolutely as to what is the right or wrong decision but there is a trade-off here between providing detailed information on our assessment of what the likely outcome of the settlement of these disputes will be-----