HC Deb 30 March 1988 vol 130 cc533-6W
Mr. Tim Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by Manpower Services Commission in 1987, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.

Mr. Lee

The management and computer consultancy contracts awarded during 1987 are listed below:

Management consultancy contracts
Consultants Subject of Assignment
Jones, Lang, Wootton Feasibility study on untying MSC from Property Services Agency.
Central Unit on Purchasing (Her Majesty's Treasury Consultant) Provide advice about purchasing arrangements within MSC
PIEDA To improve local labour market operations in Scotland
Centre for Urban and Regional Industrial Development (University of Manchester) Manchester labour market consultancy project
Coopers and Lybrand Guidance for MSC staff on appraisal and viability of Voluntary Organisations
Centre for Employment Study of operational systems
Initiatives
Coopers and Lybrand Guidance for MSC staff on implementation of item 5 above
Armitage Norton Drawing up financial systems of control for community roots trust
EOSYS Ltd Production of an information technology directory

Consultants Subject of Assignment
Armitage Norton Drawing up managerial systems of control for community roots trust
Centre for Employment Initiatives Study of operational systems
Sheffield Council of Voluntary Services Pilot appraisal and viability test checks see 5 and 7 above
Prospect Centre Develop MSC's human resource development strategy
Sheffield City Polytechnic To assist central research information unit
(2) Computer consultancy projects
P E Consulting Services To study current and future needs of sheltered employment branch
C. J. Makeson A study to examine MSC's proposals for, and design of a network terminal protocol
Comshare To provide MSC senior management with on-line access to screen-based reports of corporate information
Central Computer and telecommunications Agency (CCTA) To examine the PLECTRUM computer system, evaluate errors and security procedures
A. J. Aykroyd A consultant to assist with the development of the "Master Modeller" software package
Coopers and Lybrand To advise the Director of the MSC on the levels of investment the commission should make in information technology
P A Computer and Telecommunications To assist MSC in the introduction of office technology in head office
Arthur Young To assist MSC in deciding whether data sharing is applicable in the MSC environment
P. E. Consulting Services To produce options and recommendations for stand-alone office technology systems
Hoskyns Group To study the options for the continuing support of the TOPS and SPECTRUM systems
Mr. Boothroyd To monitor the progress of the introduction of office technology for senior management and special measures division
Concurrent Computer Corporation Ltd To test the work load capacity of the SUPERVACS system
Arthur Young A consultant to provide technical support in information engineering concepts and methods
CCTA Consultant A feasibility study into the expansion of the BACIE database
CCTA Consultant To examine MSC's use of automated software development tools and to make recommendations for future use
Mr. Harrison To produce a distance learning package for SUPERVACS operators
Mr. Boothroyd To provide advice to head of computing on proposed office technology development
CCTA To establish the effectiveness of control, management and working methods employed on the FMAS project
CCTA To establish the user requirements, system specification and business case for central research information system
Mr. Humphries A consultant to provide advice about the training access point project
ICL A consultant to provide advice about the implementation of a free text multi-user database

Consultants Subject of Assignment
CAP Industry Ltd To provide quality assurance for the SUPERVACS project
CCTA To provide contingency plans to support the SUPERVACS system
Compsoft A consultant to provide advice about computerisation of the staff deployment survey
South Yorkshire Microsystems Centre To develop a database and provide training for the RESTART project
Comshare Additional development work on providing information to MSC senior management
P. A. Consultants A consultancy to provide a training course for the implementation of the office technology systems
CCTA To carry out further work on the central research information system
CCTA Consultant To carry out a post-implementation review of the 'VETG' reorganisation project
Xentec To assist in the running of the SPECTRUM system
J. Westgate (Consultants) Ltd To assist with the implementation of network terminal protocol
CAP To look into the feasibility on implementing a terminal protocol on an open systems interconnection conforming network
Xentec To assist in the maintenance of the SPECTRUM system
C. Makemson To provide quality assurance for the various outputs from MSC's virtual terminal protocol project
Sherringtom Software Ltd To provide programmers for work on the TOPS MINIS project
CCTA Consultant To establish the requirements for the display of vacancies on ORACLE
COMPSOFT To provide guidance on the most efficient way to design and implement an accident database
Presenting with Style To provide training in the use of 'WordPerfect' software for senior officers' secretaries
M. Wilson (Consultant) To carry out changes to the Supercalc system for a staff development survey
P. A. Computers and Telecommunications Ltd To provide advice and assistance on replicating MSC's 'MASCOT' system in head office
EOSYS To carry out a strategic review of videoconferencing requirements within the DE group
CCTA Consultant To undertake a scoping study of funding, charging and management aspects of the MSC network
ORACLE TELETEXT Ltd To investigate and determine the requirements of the employment service in respect of passing information from the jobcentre computer network to ORACLE
CAMTEC To assist with the development of the MSC network management system

Mr. Tim Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by his Department in 1987, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.

Mr. Lee

The following firms were awarded contracts by the Department of Employment group, excluding the Manpower Services Commission, in 1987:

Management consultancy contracts
Firm Subject of assignment
AIMS Training Advice on the use of structured systems analysis and design methodology (SSADM)
Arthur Andersen To prepare a full study report on computerisation of benefit-related payments
D. E. Barnard Systems Post-implementation review follow-up study
CACI Research on unemployment in council house estates
CCTA Consultancy Services Electronic mail study
CCTA Consultancy Services Non-quantifiable benefits study
CMA Ltd. Ad-hoc consultancy for computer project
CMG Information Services Public Sector Ltd. Comparative study of computing costs
Coopers and Lybrand Review of local innovation centres
Datasolve Ltd. Consultancy support to computer
Deloitte Haskins and Sell Financial management review of British Tourist Authority and English Tourist Board
Durham University Business School Employment of graduates in small firms
HUSAT Job design and other human factors affecting operators in the NUBS 2 project
ICL Ltd. Advice on the use of software tools
ICL Ltd. Development of a computer prototype
IFF Research Ltd. Vacancies and recruitment in Great Britain
Logica System support
Macdonell Douglas To produce a prototype for the computerisation of personnel records
R O'Connor Consultants Information technology standards strategy study
PA Computers and Telecommunications Ltd. Evaluation criteria for a major computer project
PA Consultancy Services Ltd. Office automation pilot study
PA Consultancy Services Ltd. Work in connection with the review of the skills training agency
Pannell Kerr Foster Associates Review of the statistical needs of the tourism industry
Segal Quince Wicksteed Helping small firms start up and grow; creating a supportive local environment
Donald Smith Seymour and Rooley Generator replacement feasibility study
Yale Data Ltd. To investigate the feasibility of local payment of benefit
Arthur Young To prepare and advise on procedures for managing major capital works projects
Arthur Young Enhancement to resource information system: commitment accounting

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