Union seeks answers on National Grid corruption inquiry

The union says that it has received reports of a major investigation into allegations of bullying, mis-reporting, fraud and corruption in a gas distribution strategic partnership (GDSP) covering gas mains replacement work in the West Midlands.

The allegations include cash changing hands, holidays being paid for and work carried out on individuals’ homes in exchange for work on the GDSP.

Balfour Beatty runs the GDSP in the West Midlands and North West in a £4bn contract.

In his letter to National Grid, GMB national secretary Gary Smith writes: “We are receiving information about a major investigation into the GDSP run on your behalf by Balfour Beatty. I am told that the investigation underway is into allegations of bullying, mis-reporting, fraud and corruption. We understand that gas mains replacement work, running into tens of millions of pounds in value, may have been tainted by allegations of corrupt practice.

“The reports we have are of a major investigation into allegations wads of cash changing hands, holidays being paid for and work carried out on individuals’ houses in exchange for work on your GDSP contract. Whilst we appreciate you may not be able to go into detail at this stage, we do require some clarity on what the extent of the corrupt practice is likely to be? Indicatively, what value of work was carried out following or as a result of alleged back-handers?”

The letter continues: “In the recent past, National Grid was fined millions of pounds for mis-reporting of gas mains replacement work in the same area of the country where the current investigation is said to be focused. The mis-reporting was clearly fraudulent behaviour by any other name. We were led to believe that your previous investigation into fraud and mis-reporting was supposed to have cleaned things up. I trust you will give us an explanation why you believe ‘Project Nelson’, your previous inquiry, has apparently not ‘cleaned out the stable’?”

The Construction Index has invited National Grid to respond.

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