§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the result of the recent market-testing exercises for messengers and typing services in the Social Security Agency; on how many occasions bids were called for and how many were received; what were the costs of the market-testing operation and the estimated annual savings; and if he will list the successful bidders. [1198]
§ Mr. MossResponsibility for the subject has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie, and I have asked him to arrange for a response to be given.
Letter from J. B. Fleming to Mr. Robert McCartney, dated 1 November 1996:
Your recent Parliamentary Question on market testing has been passed to Mr. Wylie, Chief Executive of the Social Security Agency for reply. As he is away on business at present, I am replying on his behalf.Invitations to tender for the typing service and separately for the messenger and support service in the Agency were issued on 29 April 1996. The only bids received on time were those from the in-house team, one for each service. One other bid was received after the deadline and therefore rejected.The evaluation process has not yet been completed and it is therefore not yet possible to provide you with the final cost of this particular market testing exercise or the estimated savings from it. I shall ensure that you are given that information in due course.