HC Deb 21 March 1996 vol 274 cc307-8W
Mr. Miller

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all cases since 1987 in which his Department has bought computer capacity from(a) other Departments and (b) the private sector, giving the value of each contract and the name of the private sector contractors. [19451]

Sir John Wheeler

The Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office, Belfast have bought the following computer capacity from:

  • (a) Other Departments
  • The Department of Social Security Information Technology Services Agency provide systems relating to income support, unemployment benefit, pension strategy, family credit, disability working allowance, disability living allowance, social fund and child support services to the Social Security Agency and Child Support Agency.
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  • (b) The private sector
  • In 1991 a contract was awarded to CFM by the Department of Finance and Personnel on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments for the provision of a computer bureau and associated services. Other Northern Ireland Departments have also taken out separate contracts with CFM as follows:
    • Department of Health and Social Services
    • provision of contingency service—commenced 1991;
    • provision of mainframe bureau services—commenced 1993;
    • provision of a contingency support system for pensions system—commenced 1993.
    • Department of Agriculture
    • provision of Accounting System—1994–1997.
    • Department of Economic Development
    • provision of computing services for selected systems—commenced September 1992.
    • Department of the Environment
    • provision of computerised printing of all communications excluding start of year rate demands—1995–1997.
  • In addition computer capacity has been purchased from the following:
    1. (1) MVM Consultants, Bristol 1993–1998
    2. (2) Kendrick and Jefferson, Birmingham 1987–1994
    3. (3) Aluset Ltd, Dublin 1995
    4. (4) Kendrick and Jefferson, Birmingham 1996–1998
    5. (5) Datashield, Hoddleston, Herts. 1987–1995.

Individual contract values cannot be disclosed on grounds of commercial confidentiality.

Information from the Northern Ireland Office, London is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.