§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress with the computerisation of his Department's financial record keeping, drawing attention to any difficulties and stating the arrangements for ensuring continuity of supply of the computer equipment and consumables.
§ Mr. GoodladFollowing a study of the requirements of a new financial management accounting system—24W FMAS—a notice of tender was published in the official journal of the European Union in November 1993. Responses from interested parties are currently being evaluated and it is expected that a contract for development of the new system will be let later this year. The FMAS project is being managed in accordance with standard Government methodologies. Contracts exist with outside contractors for the maintenance of existing systems and the supply of consumables. Similar contracts will be put in place for the new system.