§ Pete WishartTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) which non-accounting and non-information technology external organisations have won new contracts with(a) his Department and (b) executive agencies in each of the past five years; [38723]
(2) which non-accounting and non-information technology external organisations which previously held contracts with his Department (a) won new contracts at the culmination of the existing contracts and (b) won new contracts after a period of inactivity with his Department in each of the past five years. [38724]
§ Mr. Nicholas Brown[holding reply 28 February 2002]: The questions cover a period prior to the establishment of the Department for Work and Pensions in June 2001. The information requested on contracts let by the ex Employment Service and ex-Department of Social Security is not held centrally in the new Department and the question could only be answered at disproportionate cost.
The Department for Work and Pensions lets a large number of contracts in a year, most of which are for low value purchases. The information required to answer the question is not collected centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.