HC Deb 14 February 2002 vol 380 cc563-4W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what contracts his 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 his Department from and (B) from his Department to these firms. [32424]

Mr. Leslie

Individual Government Departments are responsible for taking decisions on the goods and services they acquire taking into account the Government's policy of seeking value for money for the taxpayer.

Since 1997 the Cabinet Office, its Agencies and COI have let the following contracts with Arthur Andersen and Accenture.

Accountancy Audit Consultancy
Arthur Andersen
1997–98 0 0 0
1998–99 0 0 0
1999–2000 0 0 0
2000–01 0 0 1
2001–02 0 0 1

work commissioned by the Cabinet Office and COI that was undertaken by (a) Arthur Andersen, (b) Ernst and Young and (c) PricewaterhouseCoopers in each financial year from 1997–98 to date. Figures for earlier financial years are available only at disproportionate cost.

(ii) Deloitte Touche, (ii) Ernst and Young, (iv) KPMG and (v) PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants in each year since 1997. [34996]

Mr. Leslie

The remuneration made by Cabinet Office and the Central Office of Information to PWC Consulting or PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst and Young, Deloitte Touche, KPMG and Arthur Andersen for consultancy services in each of the financial years 1997–98 to 2001–02 is set out in the table. Information on the number of individual contracts is available only at disproportionate cost.

Accountancy Audit Consultancy
Accenture
1997–98 0 0 0
1998–99 0 0 0
1999–2000 0 0 0
2000–01 0 0 0
2001–02 0 0 0

The number of secondments is as follows:

Secondment to CO Secondment from CO
Arthur Andersen
1997–98 0 0
1998–99 1 0
1999–2000 1 0
2000–01 0 0
2001–02 1 0
Accenture
1997–98 0 0
1998–99 0 0
1999–2000 0 0
2000–01 0 1
2001–02 1 0