§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Social Service if he will make a statement on his plans to put out to contract the design, programming and operation of a combined social security computer network; which companies have progressed to tender stage; and how many of these are United Kingdom-based companies.
§ Mr. PortilloDesign and programming work in some areas is already being done by contractors, working alongside civil servants. I have no present plans to extend this or to put operations work out to contract.