§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) for what type of Property Services Agency the Thesis computer system has been designed;
(2) what is the projected cost of equipping the Property Services Agency with the Thesis computer system.
§ Mr. ChopeThe Thesis system is designed to provide IT support to PSA's maintenance management and associated operations throughout the United Kingdom. The equipment is estimated to cost £12.8 million over the next two years. The system is reviewed periodically against PSA's changing requirements. A review is now in progress in the light of PSA's transition to a commercial organisation and subsequent privatisation.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the discussions between representatives of the United States air force and the Property Services Agency about the implications for the United States air force of Property Services Agency privatisation.
§ Mr. ChopeTalks are continuing, and I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 21 December 1989,Official Report, column 436.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the time it is expected to take for the Property Services Agency to move from vote accounting to full commercial accounting in a trading fund.
§ Mr. ChopeIt is planned to introduce full commercial accounts with effect from 1 April 1991. So long as the PSA remains a Government Department, it will retain vote accounts in parallel. There are no plans to establish PSA as a trading fund.