§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [9738]
§ Mr. Douglas Hogg[holding answer 17 January 1996]: The Ministry awarded a contract for the supply of mobile and car phones to supply both the department and its executive agencies through a sealed bid competitive tender exercise.
The following companies were invited to tender for the Contract:
- Motorola Ltd.
- Hutchison Telecom (UK) Ltd.
- Talkland International (UK) Ltd.
- BT Mobile Communications
- Vodac Ltd.
- Mercury Communications Ltd.
Hutchison Telecom (UK) Ltd did not submit a tender.
This answer includes all of the agencies with the exception of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, which has answered directly.
Letter from Mr. J. F. FitzGerald to Mr. Brian H. Donohoe, dated 16 January 1996:
In my Chief Executive's absence, the Minister has asked me to reply to your question about the supply of mobile and car phones to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). This is an operational matter for which my Chief Executive is responsible.The VMD has very few requirements for mobile and car phones and we have, therefore, not awarded a contract for this supply. On the rare occasion that we need to hire a mobile phone we are able to use the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's call off contract or if this does not meet our specific need we make ad hoc arrangements for hire.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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 the public funds of each agreement. [9737]
§ Mr. Hogg[holding answer 17 January 1996]: At present, the Ministry and its executive agencies have one agreement in place for the provision of mobile and car telephones.
This is currently with Mercury Communications Ltd.
The duration of the agreement is three years.
683WMercury has supplied 651 telephones under the current agreement.
The costs to public funds for this agreement are £310,574. These figures exclude VAT and any call charges.
This answer includes all of the agencies with the exception of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, which has answered directly.
Letter from Mr. J. F. FitzGerald to Mr. Brian H. Donohoe, dated 16 January 1996:
In my Chief Executive's absence, the Minister has asked me to reply to your question asking for details of contracts for the supply of mobile and car phones to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). This is an operational matter for which my Chief Executive is responsible.The VMD does not have any contracts with companies for the provision of mobile and car phones.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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. [9739]
§ Mr. Hogg[holding answer 17 January 1996]: From information held centrally, no costs have been incurred in withdrawing from contracts under which mobile phones are provided.
Selected member states of the European Union fishing fleets as at 31 December 1991 Age in years Not known 0.0–4.9 5.0–9.9 10.0–14.9 15.0–19.9 20.0–24.9 25.0 and over Total Number of vessels United Kingdom 955 1,564 1,381 1,865 1,554 1,060 2,525 10,904 Netherlands 83 187 234 235 140 79 508 1,466 Spain 231 1,651 2,409 1,916 2,922 2,746 8,713 20,588 Denmark 180 105 303 416 686 323 1,712 3,725 GRT (000 tonnes) United Kingdom 4 31 18 31 45 30 52 211 Netherlands 0 60 47 22 15 4 24 173 Spain 18 113 53 53 159 102 57 656 Denmark 0 1 19 6 30 16 45 118 Source:
Eurostat FISHERIES—yearly statistics 1994.
There is no generally recognised measure of the efficiency of fishing fleets, which depends on a range of variable factors, including the skills of the fishermen involved.
The question of modernisation is primarily a matter for the commercial judgment of those in the industry. Any use of taxpayers money should concentrate on the need to reduce capacity to bring the fleet into better balance with what stocks will bear.