HL Deb 28 November 1996 vol 576 cc22-3WA
Viscount Waverley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the duties of Prelink Ltd. under their contract with the Department of Trade and Industry.

Lord Fraser of Carmyllie

The services which Prelink provide to the department under contract include processing export intelligence information; selling export intelligence notices to UK businesses either directly or via the Export Market Information Centre and selected business links; making export intelligence information available to FT Profile so that they can provide online access; supplying commercial staff in FCO posts overseas with verified details of UK businesses able to supply goods and services to their markets.

Viscount Waverley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the annual cost to the United Kingdom taxpayer of the contract with Prelink Ltd.

Lord Fraser of Carmyllie

The details of the contract with Prelink Ltd. are commercially confidential. Paragraph 13 of the code of practice on open government permits the withholding of such information.

Viscount Waverley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

(a) when the current contract between the Department of Trade and Industry and Prelink Ltd. terminates and (b) how much contractual notice must be given to Prelink Ltd.

Lord Fraser of Carmyllie

The current contract for the provision of the export intelligence and source of supply services expires on 31 March 1998. Details of that contract are commercially confidential. Paragraph 13 of the code of practice on open government permits the withholding of such information.

Viscount Waverley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

By what criteria they measure the benefits to the United Kingdom of the contract with Prelink Ltd.

Lord Fraser of Carmyllie

The criteria used to measure the benefits of the contract with Prelink Ltd. include value for money, UK customer satisfaction, export performance and efficiency.

Viscount Waverley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether Prelink Ltd. are entitled to retain subscription fees which they charge to United Kingdom companies.

Lord Fraser of Carmyllie

Yes.