§ Paul HolmesTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [40488]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 5 March 2002]: The information is as follows.
347W
Capita £ Year 1998–99 (January-April 1998) Recruitment of Chairman and Members—New Opportunities Fund 14,000 1998–99 (January-April 1998) Recruitment of Chairman and Trustees—National Endowment for Science and Technology (NESTA) 13,000 1998–99 Recruitment for BBC Appointments 12,000 2001–02 (October-November 2001) Training for Recruitment Scheme—Middle and Senior Managers 17,000 2001–02 (February-March 2002) Providing and Marking Standard Civil Service Written Tests 1,000 2001–02 (November 2001-February 2002) Civil Service Junior Manager Recruitment Scheme 8,000 Total 65,000 Note:
Includes Royal Parks (nil return)
For each contract, DCMS appoints a "Performance Monitoring Officer". His/her satisfaction is the benchmark for success.
There have been no "penalty charges"—but failure to deliver might lead to the contract being determined, moneys being withheld from the contractor, or the employment of a replacement contractor at the outgoing contractors expense.