HC Deb 01 May 1996 vol 276 c553W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contracts his Department and his agencies have with Serco Ltd.; what is the current cost; when each contract ends; what are the penalties involved should he seek early termination of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [26684]

Sir John Wheeler

The Northern Ireland Office, Northern Ireland Departments and their agencies have the following four contracts:

  1. 1. Roads Service: Maintenance of electronic works. Finishing in 2000.
  2. 2. Roads Service: Maintenance of variable message signs. Finishing in 2000.
  3. 3. Roads Service: Supply of motorway control system for the M2/M3, Belfast cross-harbour bridge. Finishing in 1996–97.
  4. 4. Water Service: Collection and transportation of water quality samples (western division). Finishing 31 March 1998.

In all of these contracts, the penalty for seeking early termination is "reasonable costs". The costs of the contracts have not been given on grounds of commercial confidentiality.