§ Mr. Johnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when Atkins Planning was appointed as consultant to his Department; on what occasions and for what purposes Atkins Planning has so acted; and what fees have been agreed with or paid to Atkins Planning in connection with its consultancy.
§ Dr. BoysonIn the period since 24 May 1982 the services of Atkins Planning have been used by the Department for operational research studies on three occasions
twice in connection with aspects of social security local office operationsandcurrently in connection with national insurance contributions.Total fees amounted to about £52,000.
§ Mr. Johnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what work Atkins Planning has undertaken for his Department in connection with national insurance contributions.
§ Dr. BoysonAtkins Planning has been undertaking operational research studies for the Department to explore, jointly with the Inland Revenue, more efficient ways of checking the accuracy of deductions by employers in respect of national insurance contributions and pay-as-you-earn.
427W
§ Mr. Johnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when C2 Systems Ltd. was appointed as consultant to his Department; on what occasions and for what purposes C2 Systems Ltd. has so acted as consultant; and what fees have been agreed with or paid to C2 Systems Ltd. in connection with its consultancy.
§ Dr. BoysonC2 Systems Ltd. was appointed in November 1982, as operational research consultants, to work on various aspects of the work of social security local and regional offices.
Total fees have amounted to about £66,000.
§ Mr. Johnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the National Coal Board was appointed as consultant to his Department; on what occasions and for what purposes the National Coal Board has so acted; and what fees have been agreed with or paid to the National Coal Board in connection with its consultancy.
§ Dr. BoysonIn the period since 1 April 1981 members of the operational research executive of the National Coal Board have worked with the Department's operation research service on a number of problems in the following areas:
- computerisation of social security operations
- benefit policy assessment
- stock control of computer stationery
- stock control and distribution of drugs (in the hospital pharmaceutical service)
- manpower planning
Fees have amounted to:
(Prior to that date the NCB ORE worked on problems of hospital logistics, such as stores centralisation and stock control, for a number of years.)
- £134,600 in 1981–82
- £150,000 in 1982–83
- £122,000 in 1983–84
§ Mr. Johnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what fees were agreed with or paid to Logica in connection with its work as consultant to his Department on the computerisation of social security operations, on the number and location of training centres for social security staff and on aspects of social security local office works.
§ Dr. BoysonIn connection with its work as operational research consultants to the Department on:
fees to Logica Ltd. have amounted to £36,700.
- the computerisation of social security operations (£10,000)
- the number and location of training centres for social security staff (£13,400)
- aspects of social security local office work (£13,300)
§ Mr. Johnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Company was appointed as consultant to his Department; on what occasions and for what purposes Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Company has so acted; and what fees have been agreed with or paid to Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Company in connection with its consultancy.
§ Dr. BoysonThe Department appointed Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Company as operational research consultants on 2 November 1983 following a process of competitive tendering. Its task was to advise the operational research service of the Department in connection with quality control of its computer programming and thus to facilitate the propagation of programmes. Fees were agreed at about £9,000.