§ Richard Younger-RossTo ask the President of the Council what has been the total expenditure of his Department on IT systems and support in each year from May 1997 to date; how many IT contracts have been let in each of those years; of the other main contracting party in each of those contracts, how many have been(a) companies whose registered office is in (i) England 45W and Wales, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Northern Ireland and (b) foreign companies; and what are the names of the companies falling within category (a). [33673]
§ Mr. Robin CookMy Department placed no IT contracts during the period mentioned. IT services are provided via the Cabinet Office's IT contract. (The contractor is COMPAQ Computers Ltd., Worton Grange, Imperial Way, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 OTD.) My Department is re-charged on a per capita basis for each member of staff, plus a charge for any extra software or special services. The available information (dating from when my Department joined the Cabinet Office network) is:
Period £ 1 July 1998 to 31 March 1999 24,391 1 April 1999 to 31 March 20001 16,557 1 April 2000 to 31 March 20011 172,570 1 The charge for 2000–01 includes £68,000 for a database used by the Business Co-ordination Unit (who have since been transferred to the Cabinet Office).