HC Deb 05 March 2002 vol 381 cc234-5W
Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the Cap Gemini report on the operation of the ILA scheme was commissioned; when it was due for delivery; when it was delivered; and what response her Department has made to the report. [37537]

John Healey

Cap Gemini Ernst and Young were commissioned by the Department to "Baseline the Capita computer systems" and to "Examine the Capita ILA system security arrangements". The assignments are not on the operation of ILAs. Work began in late December and it is envisaged that the final reports will be received in March.

Mr. Boris Johnson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by the Department. [39338]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

My Department has a number of contracts with Capita for a range of different services. These are as followsTeachers' Pensions: Administration of the Teachers' Pensions Scheme. Connexions Card: Development of the Connexions Card. Individual Learning Accounts: Administration of the ILA scheme. Consultancy Framework Contracts: Framework contract to provide general management consultancy support and consultancy support for LEA interventions.

They are all existing contracts within my Department.

Paul Holmes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list all contracts awarded by her Department to Capita since 1997, including(a) start and finish date of contract, (b) value of contract, (c) description of work to be carried out, (d) evaluation mechanism for successful delivery of contract, (e) penalty charges for failure to deliver and (f) if penalty charges have been incurred; and if she will make a statement. [40489]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

My Department has awarded a number of contracts to Capita since 1997 for a range of different services. These are as followsConnexions Card—Development of the Connexions Card. A public-private partnership with a contract value in excess of £100 million over seven years from 2001 to 2008. Individual Learning Accounts—Administration of the ILA scheme. A contract for five years with an estimated value of around £55 million from 2000 to 2005. Consultancy Framework Contracts—Framework contract to provide general management consultancy support and consultancy support for LEA interventions. Both framework contracts were awarded for three years and expire in 2002 and 2004 respectively. Their level of usage determines the value of these contracts. Estimated expenditure to date has been £436,500.

The Department establishes clear arrangements for monitoring the quality of outcomes delivered and for evaluating the contractor's performance as part of all of its contracting activity. Those contract management arrangements apply to each of the Capita contracts listed, and my officials have put those monitoring arrangements into operation. None of the Department's contracts include penalty clauses, as these are unenforceable under English law. The Department's contracts often include arrangements which motivate the contractor to perform by linking payment to performance and also provide for termination if the contractor is in breach of the contract terms.