HC Deb 11 February 2002 vol 380 cc59-61W
Mr. Waterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the occasions on which she has received hospitality in her ministerial capacity from(a) Arthur Andersen, (b) Andersen Consulting and (c) Accenture in the last two years. [31699]

Ms Hewitt

I attended a business dinner hosted by Arthur Andersen on 22 January 2002. As e-Commerce Minister I chaired a seminar on e-Commerce co-hosted by the DTI and Andersen Consulting at Lancaster House on 15 November 2000.

Mr. Waterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the projects on which(a) Arthur Andersen, (b) Andersen Consulting and (c) Accenture are engaged for her Department. [31700]

Ms Hewitt

Current contracts with Arthur Andersen are as follows:

  • Framework arrangement for Work-Life Balance Challenge Fund projects. The contract runs from November 2000 to October 2002
  • Study of UK competitive position. The contract runs from July 2000 to March 2002
  • Research and updating of information sheets. The contract runs from January 2000 to December 2002.

There are no current contracts with Andersen Consulting or Accenture.

Adam Price

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what pre-publication reports by Arthur Andersen she received between May 1997 and December 2001. [31938]

Ms Hewitt

The information is not held centrally by the Department and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what dates since 7 June 2001(a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in her Department have met employees of (i) Andersen and (ii) Accenture on official business; and if she will make a statement. [32101]

Mr. Waterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the occasions on which she and her ministerial colleagues have met representatives of(a) Arthur Andersen, (b) Andersen Consulting and (c) Accenture since June 2001; and what subjects were discussed. [31701]

Ms Hewitt

Ministers, special advisers and officials in my Department regularly meet a wide range of representatives from business. However as the Prime Minister's reply on 19 November 2001,Official Report, column 102W, makes clear, it is not normal practice to release details of meetings or discussions with private individuals or companies.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contracts her Department has had since 1997 with(a) Arthur Andersen and (b) Accenture for (i) accountancy, (ii) audit and (iii) consultancy work; and what staff have been seconded (A) to her Department from and (B) from her Department to these firms. [32421]

Ms Hewitt

The information on contracts is set out as follows. The first contract was with Andersen Consulting (later Accenture); the remainder with Arthur Andersen.

  • Research for the Foresight Financial Services Panel. The contract ran from September 1999 to March 2001—Consultancy.
  • Joint reporting accountants on a study of a possible introduction of public-private partnership into British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. The contract ran from October to December Accountancy 2001—Accountancy.
  • Statistical study of the British Biotechnology industry. The contract ran from April 2001 to January 2002—Consultancy.
  • Framework arrangement for Work-Life Balance Challenge Fund projects. The contract runs from November 2000 to October 2002—Consultancy.
  • Review of CMI, Cambridge. The contract ran from June to December 2001—Consultancy.
  • High technology industry survey of foreign investors. The contract ran from September 2000 to March 2001—Consultancy.
  • Study of UK competitive position. The contract runs from July 2000 to March 2002—Consultancy.
  • Research and updating of information sheets. The contract runs from January 2000 to December 2002—Consultancy.

These contracts were awarded following best departmental practice which involved obtaining competitive tenders and, where applicable, following EU procurement.

On secondments, centrally held departmental records show that since 1997 there have been two secondees from Arthur Andersen, one from 1 July 1997 to 31 December 1998 and one from 15 April 1998 to 28 April 2000. There have been only one DTI secondee to Andersen Consulting from 2 January 1997 to 7 November 1997.

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