§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 15 January 2003,Official Report, column 636W, on General Dynamics UK, which company was contracted to provide the Defence Stores Management System; whether the programme is still running; and if he will make a statement. [102566]
§ Mr. IngramFour companies (Electronic Data Systems, ASI, and Cap Gemini Ernst and Young, with IBM acting in a project integration role) were contracted to provide elements of the Defence Stores Management Solution (DSMS). The programme was suspended in January 2002 on grounds of affordability, and the Department is currently reviewing its requirements for an advanced inventory management capability that takes account of developments in software technology and in the light of independent external advice from McKinsey and Co.