HC Deb 14 January 1999 vol 323 cc289-91W
Mr. Page

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under what authority a payment was made by his Department to the Government Chief Whip's Office; and what the reasons were for the payment. [64321]

Mr. Nick Brown

[holding answer 17 December 1998]: My Special Advisers brought two laptop computers with them from the Whips' Office when they moved across to MAFF on 27 July. In accordance with normal practice, the Chief Whip's Office billed MAFF for the transfer of the equipment.

Mr. Page

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what payment has been made by his Department to the Government Chief Whip's Office; and what was the sum involved. [64320]

Mr. Nick Brown

[holding answer 17 December 1998]: A total payment of £11,207.23, including VAT, has been made by my Department to the Government Chief Whip's Office for the transfer of two laptop computers.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which(a) Ministers, (b) civil servants, (c) advisers and (d) others were responsible for moving the computer equipment to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, from the Government Whips Office in July 1998; on what day the equipment arrived at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and if he will make a statement. [64548]

Mr. Nick Brown

[holding answer 11 January 1999]: My Special Advisers brought their laptops with them on the day they joined me at MAFF on 27 July 1998.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which members of his Department have been assigned the computer equipment which was transferred to his Department from the Government Whips Office in July 1998; and if he will make a statement. [64550]

Mr. Nick Brown

[holding answer 11 January 1999]: My Special Advisers have retained the use of the two laptop computers they brought with them from the Government Whips Office in July.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the computer equipment transferred from the Government Whips Office to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in July 1998; and if he will estimate the(a) purchase cost and (b) current market value of the equipment. [64544]

Mr. Nick Brown

[holding answer 11 January 1999]: Two Toshiba Tecra 730X laptop computers, including CD ROM Drives, 48Mb RAM memory cards, PC modem cards, internet/modem and power leads, together with their carry cases transferred across from the Government Whips Office to MAFF with my Special Advisers in July. The original purchase cost of this equipment was £8,431.78. This figure is inclusive of VAT but does not include software installation costs. The estimated current market value of the equipment would be around £6,400.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) which(a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department authorised the transfer of computer equipment from the Government Whips Office to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in July 1998; and on which date such authorisation was made; [64545]

(2) which Ministers and officials in (a) the Government Whips Office and (b) the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food negotiated the (i) transfer date and (ii) purchase price of the computer equipment transferred from the Government Whips Office to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in July 1998; on what date such details were agreed; and if he will make a statement. [64546]

Mr. Nick Brown

[holding answer 11 January 1999]: Arrangements for the transfer of two laptop computers from the Whips office to MAFF, and their replacement with the latest, equivalent machines, were made between my Private Office and the Chief Whips Private Office according to standard procedure. The agreed bill was £9,738.48 for the new equipment and £1,468.75 for software installation costs. Both figures are inclusive of VAT. The relevant invoices were dealt with on receipt on 17 September and 15 October respectively.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what remedial work has been carried out on behalf of his Department on the computer equipment transferred from the Government Whips Office to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in July 1998; and if he will make a statement. [64547]

Mr. Nick Brown

[holding answer 11 January 1999]: None.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the adequacy of computer equipment in his Department. [64549]

Mr. Nick Brown

[holding answer 11 January 1999]: My Department is equipped with office and IT systems, designed to enable efficient delivery of services in line with Departmental objectives. The capability and performance of our computer equipment is kept under constant review to ensure that it is fit for the departmental purposes on which it is deployed. Significant upgrades are planned in some areas for 1999, particularly in MAFF's Regional Service Centres.