HC Deb 02 April 1996 vol 275 cc151-3W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the criteria on which a decision to contract out the work of the central inquiry unit of the Patent Office will be based; and if he will make a statement. [24159]

Mr. Ian Taylor

The general criterion is increased value for money through improvements in efficiency and quality of service. More specific criteria will be drawn up for inclusion in any invitation to tender.

The overall objective is to ensure the Patent Office is in a position to withstand competitive pressures.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Patent Office management board is authorised to oppose a study into the contracting out of the work of Departments with the Patent Office; and if he will make a statement. [24163]

Mr. Taylor

The final responsibility for decisions on contractorisation rests with the Minister concerned. Such decisions take into account advice from the chief executive and his board.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the marketing budget of the Patent Office is accounted for by the central inquiry unit; and if he will make a statement. [24158]

Mr. Taylor

About 30 per cent. of the Patent Office budget for publicity and marketing is allocated to the central inquiry unit.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Coopers and Lybrand report on the Patent Office information services department will be published; what has been the cost of the report; and if he will make a statement. [24162]

Mr. Taylor

The report contains commercially confidential material and will not be published. The cost of the review was £49,300.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will(a) name the bidders for the London office of the Patent Office, (b) announce the date on which the contracts will be awarded and (c) list the dates on which consultation has taken place with the Patent Office unions; and if he will make a statement. [24166]

Mr. Taylor

The decision on the successful bidder for the management of the London front office is expected in late April and will be announced shortly thereafter. Under the 1989 arrangements for consultation on contractorisation projects, the Patent Office trade unions were consulted on the invitation to tender in January 1996. The topic was also raised with me by the trade unions during my visit to the Patent Office on 27 March.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will outline the time scale for any study into contracting out the work of the central inquiry unit of the Patent Office; who is responsible for the study; when the contracts expire; and if he will make a statement. [24164]

Mr. Taylor

A preliminary study of the feasibility of contracting out the central inquiry unit is being carried out in-house. It is expected to be ready in late June.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the members of the Patent Office steering board; and if he will make a statement. [24157]

Mr. Taylor

The current members of the Patent Office steering board are:

  • Mr. B. G. Hilton (Chairman)
  • Mr. P. R. S. Hartnack
  • Mr. D. R. McMurtry
  • Mr. J. R. Pryer
  • Mr. D. R. Fairbairn
  • Mr. B. A. Wright
  • Mr. T. J. Cassidy
  • Mr. M. O'Shea.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many information technology consultants are employed at the Patent Office information technology services department; who employs them; and he will make a statement. [24161]

Mr. Taylor

Contract staff recruited to provide specialist skills not available in-house to the Patent Office currently number 36. They are supplied by a number of companies selected through an open competition. These suppliers are:

  • Abraxas Computer Services Ltd.
  • Almondhall Computer Staff
  • Computer People
  • Cray Systems Ltd.
  • DPP International Ltd.
  • DP Support Services
  • Eurolink Group
  • Footprint Computer Recruitment
  • Lorien Computer Recruitment Ltd.
  • The Modus Group
  • Task Force IT ServiceLine
  • Visionbase Systems Ltd.
  • World Systems plc.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what official notification his Department has made of a study into the contracting out of the work of the central inquiry unit of the Patent Office; and if he will make a statement. [24165]

Mr. Taylor

The staff of the central inquiry unit and trade union representatives have been told of the decision to carry out a feasibility study of contractorisation by the Patent Office management. Members of Parliament with an interest have been informed through parliamentary questions or ministerial correspondence.

Mr. Carlile

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the last civil servant was recruited to work at the Patent Office information technology services department; and if he will make a statement. [24265]

Mr. Taylor

Two civil servants were recruited into the Patent Office information technology services department in January 1995.

Mr. Harvey

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list(a) the number and (b) names of the private consultants currently employed in the Patent Office.[24371]

Mr. Taylor

Only Coopers and Lybrand is currently employed by the Patent Office. Marketing Improvements and Logica Ltd. have recently been employed but have now submitted their final reports which are under active consideration.