HC Deb 10 March 2004 vol 418 cc1551-2W
Mr. Gray

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2004,Official Report,column 575W, on the Inland Revenue, which commissioners of the Inland Revenue had prior knowledge of the suppliers with whom the Inland Revenue team intended to meet as part of the market making exercise for Project ASPIRE. [160014]

Dawn Primarolo

As the Board member responsible for Business Services, Tim Flesher had prior knowledge of the suppliers with whom the Inland Revenue team intended to meet as part of the Market Making exercise for Project ASPIRE.

Mr. Gray

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who the board member referred to in paragraph 54 of the Minutes of Evidence of the Public Accounts Committee, HC 431-i, Session 1999–2000, as responsible for John Yard's division on 12 April 2000 was; on what date that board member started the planning for re-tendering the Inland Revenue's information technology service referred to in the Minutes of Evidence; and on what date it was decided to conduct the market making exercise referred to in the Minutes of Evidence. [160016]

Dawn Primarolo

As I stated in my answer of 6 February 2004,Official Report,column 1081W, the Board member responsible for Business Services on 12 April 2000 was Tim Flesher, who at that time was the Inland Revenue's Deputy Chairman. As I also stated in my answer of 16 December 2003, Official Report,column 803W, planning for the ASPIRE project began in January 2001. The Market making exercise was conceived by the Inland Revenue between August and October 2001, as stated in my answer of 14 October 2003, Official Report,column 141W.

Mr. Gray

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2004,Official Report,columns 569–70W, which commissioners were present at the meeting on 7 March 2002 on Project ASPIRE; whether the commissioners addressed the assembled suppliers; and whether the commissioners were informed in advance of those suppliers who had indicated that they would attend the meeting. [160015]

Dawn Primarolo

Sir Nicholas Montagu KCB, Chairman of the Inland Revenue, and Tim Flesher, the former Deputy Chairman of the Inland Revenue were present at the meeting on 7 March 2002. Both addressed the meeting and had been informed in advance about which suppliers would attend the meeting.