HC Deb 04 April 1989 vol 150 cc38-43W
Mr. Tim Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total amount spent by his Department in 1988 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases; and if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by his Department in 1988, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.

Firm Subject of assignment
AIMS Systems Quality Assurance review for major system
AMP Software support for small firms centres system
Arthur Andersen Benefit related payments system
Arthur Young Consultancy for review of anti-fraud measures in selected systems
Consultancy for management information systems
Work on ES payments manual and testing of market
National unemployment benefit system terminal study
Glasgow Jobseeker
Central processing in London and the South-East (SUPERVACS project)
Colin Minton and Associates PER privatisation
Coopers and Lybrand Consultancy and advice on major system
D. E. Barnard Systems SUPERVACS—Technical assurance co-ordination
SUPERVACS—Risk analysis for disaster site
Falkman Communications Advice on ES internal communications
Datasolve Computer-based training for the national unemployment benefit system
Ferrari Software Consultancy for local area network specification
Hoskyns Management of computer systems Software enhancements to major systems
HUSAT National unemployment benefit system
ICL Use of new techniques on major systems
IDMS X consultancy
Resolution of mainframe loading problems
Quickbuild and data specification requirements
ITM Ltd. Restart
Kennedy Robinson Business Development Ltd. ES executive board workshop
Learmouth and Burchett Management Systems PROMPT study
Lloyd Northover Work on ES corporate identity
Makrotest A study of the small firms service
Michael Wesley Associates Production of careers service publicity guide
PA Consultants A review of Government support for the tourism industry
IT strategy for ES
SEPACS study
Feasibility study on SUPERVACS enhancements
Pannell Kerr Foster Associates A review of the statistical needs of the tourism sector
Peter Seal Quantity surveyor for structural surveys
Professor Colin Gallagher (Newcastle University) Research into the role of small firms in job generation in the United Kingdom
Sphinx Ltd. Adjudication office automation
Thurrock Computing Services RESTART study
Yale Data SSADM consultancy for major personnel project Advice on standards for testing critical systems Adjudication office automation

Mr. Cope

The total amount spent by my Department (excluding the Training Commission/Agency) in 1988 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases, was £2.3 million.

The following firms were awarded consultancy contracts by the Department of Employment group, excluding the Training Commission/Agency, during 1988:

Mr. Tim Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total amount spent by the Training Commission in 1988 on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases; and if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by the Training Commission in 1988, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.

Consultants Subject of Assignment
J. Ackroyd A consultant to enhance the existing database for the YTS expenditure forecasting model
Bacie A consultant to look after a database of "LCP" information
Butler Cox A consultancy to assist the Training Commission in evaluating the office technology project
Camtec To provide assistance with the development of the MSC network
CCTA To put a business case together (including investment appraisal aspects) for a local area network for the Training Commission at Moorfoot
To undertake a scoping study of funding, charging, and management aspects of the MSC network
Codd & Date To advise the Training Commission on the definition of a relational database
Compact Business Computers LTD A consultant to develop a database for the employment training underpinning system
Compsoft A consultant to provide guidance on the most efficient way to design and implement an accident database
Coopers and Lybrand Associates A consultant to review the commission's corporate financial management strategy Consultant to provide project management support
CMG Information Services System analysts to assist FSR with their development work
EOYSYS A consultant to carry out a strategic review of the videoconferencing requirements within the DE Group
GTC Project Ltd. Creation of a database for the employment training initiative monitoring system
Harwell Computer Power Consultancy advice on the use of "STATUS"
Hunterskill A consultant to provide SSADM support on the PDP project
I-NET A consultant to review the Training Commission's network
The Instruction Set To provide the Training Agency with advice and guidance on the selection of a software environment
The Instruction Set A consultant to assist in the evaluation of the software environment
National Council for Education To provide TAP with consultancy in the areas of strategy, planning, R and D projects
The Networking Centre A consultant to produce a business analysis for the Moorfoot site
Omicron A consultant to write a purchase order management system, and train staff in its use
PA Computers and Telecommunications To provide advice and assistance in deciding where, and how, MSCs "MASCOT" system should be replicated in MSC HO
A study to look into the office technology input to the infrastructure project
PE Consulting Services System analyst to assist FSR with their development work
Presenting with Style A consultant to provide training in the use of "Wordperfect" software for senior officers' secretaries
Sherington Software A study to evaluate packages for transferring data from "ALL" to micros Programmers to assist the Training Agency on the maintenance and development of the TOPS MINIS System
Chrissie Strickland A consultant to look after a database of "LCP" information

Mr. Cope

The Training Agency spent a total of £1.1 million during the calendar year 1988 on mangement and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases. No management consultancy contracts were awarded during 1988. The list of computer consultancy contracts awarded during 1988 is as follows:

Consultants Subject of Assignment
R. H. Wilmott A study into the Training Agency's X.400 profile and messaging requirements taking into account "COSIP" message handling system
M. Wilson A consultant to carry out changes to the "Supercalc" system for the staff deployment survey
Xentec Contract programmers for spectrum development work
Yale Data Systems analyst to assist FSR with their development work Consultant to support in-house technical assurance coordinator
Arthur Young A study into the information needs of senior management