The former chief executive of the Manx Electricity Authority would not provide regular financial information to government officials as long as he was in post, it has been claimed.

As the Tynwald inquiry continued into the MEA’s ?120 million overspend, Mike Proffitt was described as being 'obstructive' to requests for information.

It was also claimed Mr Proffitt felt the standard capital procedures process didn’t apply to the authority.

James Davis reports (text, below, from attached audio file):

Department of Transport Chief Executive Ian Thompson, formerly the capital projects co-ordinator for Treasury, said Mr Proffitt did not want Treasury managing his schemes, and that regular information would not be provided as long as he was chief executive.

Despite voicing regular concerns and attempts by Treasury to get a degree of compliance, Mr Thompson said little changed and he referred to a number of forthright exchanges over the issue between Mr Proffitt and the then chief financial officer, Mary Williams.

They were described as a number of dreadful conversations.

The capital projects officer in Treasury, Alan Teare, said he was quite astounded by Mr Proffitt’s blatant stance but did acknowledge that one of the few reports received from Mr Proffitt showed the project coming in within budget.

The Treasury’s financial controller, Clive McGreal, also highlighted concerns at the time and said there had now been a change of culture, and the MEA had a much closer working relationship with its officers and a willingness to work to financial regulations.

The committee will sit again on May 29.

(Picture: The headquarters of the Manx Electricity Authority).