§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the firms of consultants used by Customs and Excise as part of the market testing programme since November 1991 together with the total cost; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir John CopeCustoms and Excise have used a number of consultants to assist in preparing the market testing programme, to support in-house bids, to advise market test managers and prepare specifications. The cost of this consultancy since November 1991 has been £245,000. The following consultants have been used.
- Barony Consulting
- BIS
- Capita
- Coopers and Lybrand
- Ernst and Young
- Erskine Consultancy
- PA Consultancy
- PE Consultancy
- Pool Associates
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all the market tests that have taken place in Customs and Excise since November 1991; whether the result was the maintenance of in-house provision or whether the service was contracted out; what was the name of the successful contractor where appropriate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir John CopeCustoms and Excise have completed four market tests since November 1991. The tests covered typing services in the Leeds and east midland areas, Southend headquarters and the Department's stores branch. In all cases, the in-house bid was successful.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all those services or functions that have been 505W contracted out from the Customs and Excise since November 1991 without market testing an in-house bid against external competition, with, in each instance, the successful contractor and the reasons for the decision to exclude an in-house bid.
§ Sir John CopeCustoms and Excise have completed four market tests since November 1991. An in-house bid was put forward in each case, and all four contracts have been awarded in-house.
§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in the Customs and Excise are assigned to the market testing programme; how much the programme has cost Customs and Excise since November 1991; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir John CopeCustoms and Excise have a team of six staff dedicated to market testing and have also used a number of outside consultants. The total expenditure on completed and ongoing market tests on these staff costs and consultancy fees since November 1991 has been £360,000. Headquarters staff and staff in areas which are being market tested are also engaged in this work, in addition to their normal duties.