§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Minister for the Civil Service if, for the central Government computer orders listed below, he will give the name and price of the supplier to whom the orders were awarded and what estimate he has made of the lowest price for which the equipment could have been obtained from any other source in each case: Department of Industry Computer Centre, Eastcote, Department of the Environment Water Data Unit, Reading, Department of Employment, Runcorn, Building Research Station, Garston, Department of Health and Social Security, Reading, Department of Health and Social Security, Livingstone, and the Home Office, Metropolitan Police Joint ADP Unit.
32W
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisAll the computers in question are 19045 systems on order, or the subject of current tenders, from International Computers Limited. The 1904S is more powerful than Atlas and, in accordance with the computer purchasing policy announced in the House of Commons on 2nd March 1971, procurement is by way of single tender. It is not the practice to disclose prices; but in each case the price to be paid will not exceed the Company's commercial list prices.
The machines will replace or extend existing ICL 1900 series installations and procurement from other sources would have involved substantial costs which are avoided by continuing with compatible ICL machines.