§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what amounts were paid to(a) Bath university and (b) PMS Communications Ltd. for compiling the recently published schools examination league tables.
§ Mr. ForthThe value of the contracts for the compilation of the school performance tables was as follows:(a) Bath university, £90,046; (b) PMS Communications Ltd., £65,000. These sums are exclusive of VAT.
§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Education when the contract to compile the schools examination league tables was advertised; how many organisations submitted tenders to carry out the work; which body carried out the tender evaluation; who drew up the tender specifications; and who was responsible for the award of the contract.
§ Mr. ForthThe procedures adopted in inviting tenders for this work and deciding on the award of contract were fully in line with established Government purchasing policy. It is not the Department's policy to advertise all contracts. In the case of the school examination results data preparation contract the Department was aware, through extensive supplier research, of 18 potential tenderers with the right level of expertise to undertake the work. This was felt to be a sufficient number to ensure a high level of competition and good value for money, without the need to advertise.
The tender specifications were drawn up by officials from a number of branches within the Department, who offered professional guidance on specific issues. Eighteen invitations were sent out, and five tenders were received for the work. These were evaluated by a project board comprising Departmental officials, also from a number of branches. The decision to award the contract to PMS Communications Ltd. was taken by the project board.
§ Mr. ByersTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what action he is considering against Bath university and/or PMS Communications Ltd. under their contract for the compiling of the schools examination league tables in relation to inaccuracies in the work carried out.
§ Mr. ForthAll alleged inaccuracies in the examinations data for individual schools are being investigated individually. Where definite inaccuracies are proved to be the fault of the contractors, these will be rectified free of charge, in accordance with their contractual obligations. As at 24 November, this has happened in five cases only. About half the alleged inaccuracies have been supplied or agreed by schools themselves; the others relate to cases where the amendments sought were invalid, unsubstantiated or arrived after the given deadline.