HC Deb 02 February 1995 vol 253 c840W
Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a copy of the agreement made with the chief executive of the NHS executive between 1986 and 1989 regarding his non-involvement in NHS contracts with IBM.

Mr. Sackville

The agreement between IBM and the Department of Health and Social Security dated 10 February 1986 formed the contractual basis of the secondment of Sir Leonard Peach as director of personnel, national health service management board. It sets out the detailed terms and conditions of his appointment. It would not be appropriate to place a copy in the Library.

The relevant extract from the agreement covering Sir Leonard Peach's non-involvement in NHS contracts with IBM reads: The secondee will not undertake work in any way connected with procurement of products or selection of suppliers in any of IBM's spheres of operation. His work should not in any way relate to IBM or any of its competitors and he will be asked to sign a conflict of interest statement, a copy of which is attached to this contract. In addition he will absent himself from any discussions on the NHS Management Board or elsewhere, which might lead to DHSS letting a contract or commission to IBM. Also he is required to make a declaration to the Chairman of the NI-IS Board whenever IBM submits a tender to the DHSS or a Health Authority in England or obtains a contract PROVIDED that such declaration shall only be required in respect of major bilis. These are defined as IBM System 370 architectured systems or volume purchase agreements for small systems. In particular, this definition excludes typewriters, personal computers, supplies, single small-system bids and all bids or sales by Agents or third parties. I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to find a copy of the conflict of interest statement referred to in the first paragraph of this extract.