Hamilton expresses regrets over RHI cost solution

Former DUP economy minister Simon Hamilton has said he regrets not pushing civil servants more to find a solution to the massive budget problem with the flawed RHI scheme.

Mr Hamilton has been giving evidence to the inquiry about his time as economy minister during 2016, after the scheme had been closed and officials were trying to manage the huge overspend.

He says he was assured by civil servants that they were working on solutions, but says he then realised the work needed wasn't being carried out.

“I’m demanding and pressurising at that point,” said Mr Hamilton.

“I think the submission, at the risk of jumping ahead Mr Schofield, there is the October 28th submission comes forward and that’s when I suppose the penny drops with me that actually they haven’t been doing the work that I’ve been told that they’re doing.

“Because the submission that comes to me on the 28th of October is flawed in several ways.”