§ Mr. Derek FosterTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what outstanding loans HMSO has; and from what source these loans come; [23251]
(2) what plans there are to extend or replace the HMSO service level agreement that is held with the Ministry of Defence; [23255]
(3) what service level agreements HMSO holds with other Government Departments; and which of these are due to expire during 1996; [23253]
17W(4) on what date the HMSO 1996 accounts are expected to be published. [23256]
(5) what is the value of goods and services supplied by HMSO under the Ministry of Defence service level agreement. [23254]
§ Mr. FreemanAs these are purely operational matters, I have asked the chief executive of HMSO to reply directly to the right hon. Member.
Letter from Mike Lynn to Mr. Derek Foster, dated 28 March 1996:
I have been asked by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to reply to your Parliamentary Questions Nos 140, 141, 142, 145 and 146. The information is as follows:140. As at 26 March 1996, HMSO had one outstanding loan of £12m, advanced from the National Loans Fund.141. New service agreements were signed with the MOD on 13 March 1996, for both office supplies and print. These agreements will run for two years.145. HMSO normally publishes its Trading Fund Accounts at the end of April. Subject to audit, we expect to do the same this year.146. In 1995, £25m of office stationery products and £11m of print were supplied to the MOD.142. HMSO currently holds the following major service level agreements with other Government departments:
Customer HMSO Business Expiry date Passport Agency Security Print 1999 Benefits Agency Security Print 1998 OPCS Security Print 1997 Vehicle Inspectorate Security Print 1999 National Savings Security Print 2000 DSS Print and Logistics 1997 IR Print and Logistics 1997 UKPA Print and Logistics 1996 F&CO Print and Logistics 1996 DNS London Print 1998 MOD Norwich Print 1998 MOD Office Supplies 1998 DSS Office Supplies 1996 IR Office Supplies 1998 Home Office Office Supplies 1997 C&E Office Supplies 1997 LCD Office Supplies 1996 Emp. & Ed Office Supplies 1997 Environment Office Supplies 1997 Scottish Office Scotland 1997 GPS/NI Northern Ireland 1997 DENI Northern Ireland 1996 IR Business Systems 1997 DSS Business Systems 1996 DVLA Business Systems 1997
§ Mr. FosterTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the House will be given full details of the information memorandum related to the proposed sale of HMSO. [23257]
§ Mr. FreemanThe information memorandum is a commercially sensitive document to which access is carefully controlled in order to protect HMSO's business and the interests of the Government in the sale process. I do not intend therefore to make the information memorandum generally available. However, in accordance with the undertaking which I gave to the18W Finance and Services Select Committee when I appeared before it on 21 November 1995, I shall provide the information memorandum to the Committee Clerk.
§ Mr. FosterTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what leasehold and freehold properties are to be included with the proposed sale of HMSO. [23252]
§ Mr. FreemanThe intention is that all freehold and leasehold properties occupied by HMSO at the time of the sale, with the exception of suite B, St. Clement's house, should be included with the proposed sale.