§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) of 31 January,Official Report, column 496, what was the network referencing listed under the column headed "Service Required"; and what KPMG provided.
§ Mr. NorrisThe network referencing project concerned the review and possible re-development of the existing computer-based model of the trunk road and motorway network. This model is used by the Department's computerised network information system, which helps decisions on highway investment.
KPMG was commissioned in September 1992 to review the Department's business requirements for network-based data and to recommend an effective referencing system. KPMG's report in May 1993 recommended the simplification of the current network model, and provided a business case to justify the re-development.
§ Mrs DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) of 31 3W January, Official Report, column 496, what duties the temporary finance director, hired from Coopers and Lybrand, carried out; and for how long that director was employed.
§ Mr. NorrisThe purpose of this appointment between 3 August 1992 and 31 January 1993 at the Transport Research Laboratory was to cover the delay in appointing a permanent finance director from the private sector; and to assist in developing a culture of service that would encourage a more commercial orientation in the finance department.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) of 31 January,Official Report, column 496, what was the study of EC directives under the column headed "Service Required"; and what service Coopers and Lybrand provided.
§ Mr. NorrisThe study by Coopers and Lybrand was into directive 91/440/EC on the development of Community railways. Coopers and Lybrand provided recommendations on, among other matters, accounting separation, track charging and mechanisms for access to the railway network arising from this directive.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) of 31 January,Official Report, column 496, what was the OPRAF consultancy under the column headed "Service Required"; and what service Ernst and Young provided.
§ Mr. NorrisThe OPRAF consultancy was commissioned to identify the business objectives, business processes and information requirements of the rail regulator and the director of rail franchising, and to consider and evaluate these and future IT requirements. Ernst and Young performed this study, producing a formal report, and subsequently developed an implementation plan, more detailed specifications and recommendations for technical strategy options.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) of 31 January,Official Report, column 496, what was the DISC network policy under the column headed "Service Required"; and what service KPMG provided.
§ Mr. NorrisThe DISC network policy project was set up to develop a technical strategy for wide area computer networking provision and network management services. KPMG provided business and technical expertise, and assistance in the preparation of policy guidance for the departmental information systems committee—DISC.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) of 31 January,Official Report, column 496, if he will set out in detail the type of financial advice provided by Capita in 1993.
§ Mr. NorrisCapita Management Consultants was asked to review the financial and management information systems used to plan, monitor, control and report4W expenditure on accommodation and office services; to develop proposals for a computerised management accounting system; to advise on time and activity recording systems; to calculate the full economic costs of each service; and to assist in developing service level agreements and baseline costings for market testing services.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) of 31 January,Official Report, column 496, what was the senior staff review under the column headed "Service Required"; and what service Price Waterhouse provided.
§ Mr. NorrisThe Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency reviewed and revised its senior structure in order to further improve the management of its organisation. Price Waterhouse gave advice and assistance in that process.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) of 31 January,Official Report, column 496, what duties were carried out by the temporary accountant hired from Michael Page Finance; and how long the accountant was employed.
§ Mr. NorrisThe purpose of this appointment was to cover staff absence during the period 5 May 1993 to 27 August 1993; and to assist in the preparation of the first set of commercial accounts for the Transport Research Laboratory.