§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Industry whether (a) Arthur Andersen, (b) Langton Information Systems, (c) Logica VTS, (d) Peat Marwick Mitchell and (e) P-E Consulting Group have either been engaged or commissioned by his Department or have undertaken studies on behalf of his Department or have in any way assisted with the compilation of reports on the question of office systems; what was the total cost to public funds of the services of each firm; what was the date of any surveys undertaken or reports submitted; whether the National Enterprise Board has a shareholding in any of the firms; and whether any other firms have been similarly involved.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerA group of nine consultancy organisations, selected by the Computing Services 605W Association, have undertaken work in the field of office studies on behalf of the Department of Industry. The group consists of the following companies:
- Arthur Andersen & Co.
- Communications Studies & Planning Ltd. (CS&P)
- Computer Analysts and Programmers (UK) Ltd. (CAP)
- Langton Information Systems Ltd.
- LEASCO Software Ltd.
- Logica Ltd.
- PA Computers & Telecommunications Ltd. (PACTEL)
- Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co.
- The P-E Consulting Group
The group undertook a study of development requirements and market needs in the area of text processing and then a joint analysis with manufacturing members of the United Kingdom Information Technology Organisation to produce product definitions to meet the identified needs. The first report was received by the Department in April 1980 and the second is expected to be delivered to the Department and UKITO by the end of September 1981. It is not the usual practice to disclose the value of individual contracts.
I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him of 10 June for information concerning the above mentioned group's involvement with the Department's "office of the futures" pilot projects.
The NEB holds a minority shareholding in Computer Analysts & Programmers (UK) Ltd. and in Logica Holdings Ltd.