HC Deb 07 February 2002 vol 379 cc1090-1W
Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on how many of his Department's PFI contracts Arthur Andersen has been an adviser; and if he will make a statement. [31718]

Dr. Whitehead

Andersen has not advised my Department on any of its PFI contracts.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what dates since 7 June 2001(a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department have met employees of (i) Andersen and (ii) Accenture on official business; and if he will make a statement. [32100]

Dr. Whitehead

Ministers and civil servants meet many people as part of the process of policy development and analysis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code and Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists. Some of these discussions take place on a confidential basis, and in order to preserve confidentiality, it is not the normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) how many contracts have been let to Arthur Andersen by his Department since 1997 on(a) matters relating to the railways and (b) other matters; [33045]

(2) pursuant to his answer of 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 584W, on departmental consultants, on what matters relating to Railtrack his Department is continuing to receive advice from Arthur Andersen. [33046]

Mr. Byers

[holding answer 4 February 2002]: Individual Government Departments are responsible for taking decisions on the goods and services they acquire, whether through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) or other procurement routes, taking into account the Government's policy of seeking value for money for the taxpayer. The public sector as a whole has signed hundreds of contracts, covering the delivery of a range of services.

The number of contracts that have been let to Arthur Andersen since 1997 are as follows;

  1. (a) Two—on accountancy and taxation issues relating to the administration process and on the restructuring of Railtrack plc;
  2. (b) Three—two are framework agreements (framework agreements do not guarantee work; each firm on the agreement has to bid for individual tenders). One housing research project was also completed in 1999.