HC Deb 18 January 1999 vol 323 cc359-60W
Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps have been taken to avoid conflicts of interest among those who provide advice to the public on behalf of Action 2000. [64712]

Mr. Wills

I understand that, to avoid potential conflicts of interest, in its advice and guidance material Action 2000 redirects wherever possible relevant inquiries to other sources of advice and suppliers of millennium products in the UK of which it is aware.

In addition, Action 2000 has a general policy not to allow its contractors or third party commercial organisations to use the Action 2000 name or logo to imply support or endorsement of any commercially available millennium product or service.

Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if it is a condition of the contract between Action 2000 and Data Dimensions Inc. that Data Dimensions Inc. shall not promote its own millennium compliance methodology product and associated courses; and if he will make a statement. [64711]

Mr. Wills

Action 2000 is an independent company set up by DTI to help UK businesses tackle the Millennium Bug.

I understand that in the contract with Data Dimensions Action 2000 has not included a condition preventing Data Dimensions from promoting their own millennium compliance methodology products and associated courses.

Action 2000 has a general policy of not allowing third party commercial organisations to use the Action 2000 name or logo to imply support or endorsement of their commercially available millennium products or services. It has not given Data Dimensions permission to use its contract with Action 2000 to imply support or endorsement by Action 2000 of its millennium compliance methodology products and associated courses.

Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what tendering process preceded the award by Action 2000 of a contract to Data Dimensions Inc. for the development of a database of providers of software products for millennium compliance; and on what date the contract was completed. [64710]

Mr. Wills

I understand that Action 2000 invited three companies to tender against a clearly defined Service Specification and according to normal DTI tendering rules. All respondents were visited prior to issue of the Invitation to Tender and invited to present their proposals to Action 2000 and an independent representative from Business Links.

All responses were analysed against objective service and commercial criteria. Data Dimensions was awarded the contract on the basis of:

  • Meeting the Action 2000 service requirement.
  • Realistic pricing with scope for flexibility.
  • Low commercial risk to Action 2000.
  • Credible supplier (particularly at being able to handle potentially large volumes of technical inquiries).

The contract was formally awarded on 14 September 1998. The new Year 2000 Software Status Service was delivered on time in October to specification and within budget.