§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what areas of the work of the British Geological Survey have been contracted out; who has bid for them; and who has been awarded them. [30222]
§ Mr. HoramThe British Geological Survey contracts out those areas which require scientific skills not available in-house and those functions which can be carried out more effectively by outside contractors. Specialist scientific support, such as research vessel hire and some drilling, is contracted out as the need arises. Some support, as in the case of computing services, is provided through service level agreements with the Natural Environment Research Council. The identity of many of the bidders for scientific and specialist support is considered by the survey to be commercial—in-confidence; others could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The following service functions have been contracted out to national and local suppliers through open competitive tendering:
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Service Cleaning Initial Cleaning Services Northern Maintenance plc Security Centuryan Security Ltd. Catering Sutcliffe Catering Printing (part) Colour Images Ltd. Saxon and Graphics Ltd. Linneys Colour Print Ltd. Hawthornes Ltd. Meridian Colourstream Ltd. Travel services and Vehicle hire Carlsson Wagon Lit
§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether his Department has put out to tender the oil information services of the British Geological Survey. [30223]
§ Mr. HoramUntil 1993, the British Geological Survey provided scientific services to the oil and gas division of the Department of Trade and Industry under letters of agreement, on a repayment basis. In the course of that year, the DTI invited competitive tenders for the supply of those services over a five-year period under five separate contracts, one of which was awarded to the BGS.