§ Mr. Gordon MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what conditions he has identified as reasonable cause to terminate outsourcing contracts for the Information Technology Services Agency in terms of(a) cost, (b) delay and (c) failure to meet operational needs. [103623]
§ Angela EagleThe Department is in detailed discussions and negotiations with its preferred IT supplier, Affinity. This work will not be complete before February and it is not until then that the detail of the contracts, in respect of termination, will have been finalised.
We intend to make sure that sufficient contractual safeguards are in place in the event that the service provider fails to meet the contractual service requirements. Termination is one of the safeguards under discussion.
§ Mr. Gordon MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he next plans to meet trade union side representatives to discuss plans for outsourcing at the Information Technology Services Agency. [103624]
§ Angela EagleThe Department has met with representatives from the Trade Union Side (TUS) at both Agency and Departmental level since the initial announcement regarding the future IS/IT Strategy for the Department. I also met with representatives of Departmental and Agency TUS on 25 November to discuss their concerns regarding the decision to outsource.
Regular meetings between the Agency and the local TUS are taking place and a schedule of meetings, up to the end of March, has been agreed. A consultation framework has also been agreed between ITSA and TUS.
72WThe working relationship with the TUS in ITSA and consultation process is well established. We are being kept informed of all significant outcomes of meetings with TUS. We have no current plans to have further meetings with the TUS on this matter.