HC Deb 10 March 1976 vol 907 cc232-3W
Mr. Crawford

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the number of computers in use in universities in Scotland, their make, the date of their installation, and their cost when installed.

Mr. Mulley

The computers installed in Scottish universities are listed below. Costs of installation include subsequent enhancement. No central record is normally kept of small computers, generally costing less than £50,000.

delivery dates, save in exceptional circumstances where the penalties of transferring from another manufacturer would be too great;

(2) to acquire other computers by single tender action where there are reasons for seeking compatibility or flexibility, subject to the same proviso about price, performance and delivery;

(3) in all other cases, including those in which the appropriate manufacturers are unable to meet the conditions specified in (1) and (2), to seek competitive tenders, including so far as possible at least one offering a system manufactured in the United Kingdom, and to award the contract strictly on the merits of the evaluation.

All the computers purchased for Scottish universities were by single tender action.