Stephen Brimstone: DSD deadline over DUP adviser report

Committee chairman Alex Maskey said if the report was not handed over by 12 February the matter would go to court

The social development minister faces a deadline later to hand over a report about the conduct of a special adviser to a Stormont committee.

The assembly's social development committee has been investigating allegations of political interference in the Housing Executive.

The allegations were made in a 2013 BBC Spotlight programme about the DUP special adviser Stephen Brimstone.

Mervyn Storey has until 17:00 GMT to give the committee the report.

The programme claimed Mr Brimstone pressured DUP councillor Jenny Palmer to change her vote in a Housing Executive board meeting.

Officials in the civil service have carried out an internal review into Mr Brimstone's conduct, which has not been published.

At a previous session, the Department of Social Development (DSD) committee chair Alex Maskey said that unless the report was produced by 12 Februrary: "We're for the courts".

The committee met in closed session last week to consider correspondence from Mr Storey.

They agreed to extend the deadline for the minister until 17:00 GMT on Wednesday, 18 February.

A committee spokesperson said: "Subject to the minister's response, the committee will consider all options to conclude this matter to its satisfaction."