HC Deb 27 April 1984 vol 58 cc629-30W
Mr. Mates

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the contracts, with the subject of assignment, awarded to management consultancy and accounting firms by his Department in 1983.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

[pursuant to his reply, 12 April 1984, c. 379]: The firms and the contracts are as follows:

Arthur Andersen & Co. Family practitioner service study on administration and use of computers. Progress management for the operational research service of the Department. Terminal replacement inquiry service.

H. Ashfield Associates ltd. Study of Databank for medical division. To examine, with DHSS Library, the system for storing medical articles etc.

Atkins Planning To explore, jointly with Inland Revenue, more efficient ways of checking the accuracy of deductions by employers in respect of national insurance contributions and PAYE.

Binder Hamlyn Fry and Co. Expenditure control in the family practitioner services.

CAP (London) Ltd. Local office micro project. Terminal replacement inquiry service. Support work for operational research service project. Micro support service for the private office.

CSC (UK) Ltd. Local office project. Computer application in local offices.

Deloitte Haskins and Sells Study on losses of supplies in a NHS hospital.

Hanbridge House (Europe) Study of companies in competition with Export Foundation. (International Relations Division).

HUSAT Human factors—systems interface design. Assistance to operational research service to explain systems to office staff.

Logica Ltd. Programming support for personnel statistics. (Establishments Division). To evaluate the computer aspects of the feasibility of introducing an electronic radiology department.

Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co. To advise the operational research service of the Department in connection with quality control of its computer programming and thus to facilitate the propagation of programmes.

Price Waterhouse Associates Budgetary control system. To advise the Department on administrative expenditure covering management units in HQ, two central offices and the regional organisation.

A. C. Steenson DHSS representative—war pensions appeals in Belfast and Dublin.

Details of contracts awarded to accounting firms in 1983 for the external audit of certain health authorities were given in my hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Mr. Knox) on 21 July 1983 at columns 211–12.