§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment from which companies his Department sought quotations; what was the size of each quotation, and how many British companies were approached when acquiring computer time used in any way in relation to the 1982–83 rate support grant settlement including abatement.
§ Mr. KingA total of 17 firms were approached last year, with a view to renegotiating my Department's existing contract for computing work associated with the rate suppport grant settlement. Six of these wer United Kingdom firms.
It would not be appropriate or accord with normal practice to make available the names of the firms involved, 379W at a stage when the procurement process has not been completed. Nor would it be appropriate to make available details of their individual proposals.
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total expenditure by his Department on computer time used in any way in relation to the 1982–83 rate support grant settlement including abatement; and how much of this expenditure was devoted to the use of (a) the Department's own computer facilities, (b) computer time at Comshare Limited, (c) computer time at Geisco and (d) computer time at other organisations.
§ Mr. KingThe estimated total cost of computer time—usage and storage—incurred in respect of the 1982–83 RSG settlement is estimated to be £241,744 up to 31 December 1981. Of this total, £8, 000 represents expenditure on the Department's own computer facilities. It is not Government practice to divulge information on individual computer contracts because the firms involved would regard this as confidential information.
However, the whole of the expenditure with commercial bureaux in respect of the 1982–83 settlement was incurred with Comshare and Geisco.