§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what procedures were used by his Department in awarding contracts for the supply of mobile and car phones to his Department and its executive agencies; and which companies were involved in tendering for these contracts. [9744]
(2) what agreements his Department and its executive agencies have with companies for the provision of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost to public fund of each agreement. [9743]
(3) what costs his Department and executive agencies have incurred as a result of withdrawing from contracts under which mobile phones are provided; and if he will list the companies concerned. [9745]
§ Sir John Wheeler[holding answer 17 January 1996]: Within the Northern Ireland departments and agencies, the procurement of mobile equipment and car phones is carried out using normal Government procurement and accounting procedures, advised by the department of finance and personnel's telecommunication branch. It is normal practice to obtain three quotations for the instruments themselves and a quotation from each of the network providers in Northern Ireland. Quotations are normally obtained from among the following:
- British Telecom
- Cartec
- Motorola
- Netcom
- Vodac
- Communications Shop
- Mobile Communications Specialists
- CAB Phones
- Euromobile
- Cellularphones
- Hutchison Telecom
- Vodafone
The Northern Ireland Office and its agencies have also obtained mobile and car phones, taking into account the cost and most suitable network.
960WIndividual agreements are taken out for each mobile and car phone purchased within the Northern Ireland Office, Northern Ireland departments and agencies. Agreements have been taken out with British Telecom, Hutchison Telecom, Vodafone, Netcom, Vodac, Cartec, Motorola, The Communication Shop, Mobile Comms Specialists, CAB phones, Euromobile and Cellularphones covering 533 phones at a total annual cost of £145,026 rental plus call charges.
The normal duration for each agreement is one year plus a three-month cancellation period and the cost depends on the type of service required.
The costs incurred by the Northern Ireland Office, Northern Ireland departments and agencies withdrawing from such agreements has been £94. The company involved was British Telecom.