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Justices of the Peace
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the appointment of justices of the peace. [2612]
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Mr. Wills: My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor is keen that the social composition of the magistracy reflects the community it serves, subject to all magistrates fulfilling the merit criteria for appointment. Advisory committees are required to ensure that benches reflect the community in terms of gender, ethnic origin, geographical spread, occupation and political affiliation. My noble Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster requires his advisory committees to do the same. Work is under way to develop a national strategy for the recruitment of lay magistrates and to find a viable alternative to the use of political affiliation as a measure of social balance.
IT Contracts
Mr. Dobson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the Information Technology contracts in excess of £500,000 let by his Department or its predecessor since April 1991, giving in each case the original estimated cost and original estimated completion date, the actual cost and actual completion date and the names of the contractors involved and consultants retained by his Department. [3503]
Mr. Wills: The following table lists the IT contracts that have been let by the Lord Chancellor's Department with a value of more than £500,000, since April 1991. Probity and value for money in contracting for IT projects is ensured through compliance with EC public procurement rules, UK Government domestic procurement policy and best practice guidance, Government accounting rules and National Audit Office requirements.
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Libra Project
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will place a list of the reasons for the increase in the value of the Libra project in the Library; if liquidated damages clauses are included in the contract for the Libra project; and if he will place a copy of the contract in the Library. [3818]
Mr. Wills: The increase in the cost of the Libra project is based on delivery of an additional four years of the full Libra service to all magistrates' courts and an earlier delivery of the first part of the Libra service—office automation. A liquidated damages clause is included in the contract. As the contract contains commercially confidential information, it would not be appropriate to make it available in the Library.
Public Trust Office Annual Report
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she will publish the Public Trust Office's annual report and accounts for 2000–01. [5331]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Public Trust Office's annual report and accounts for 2000–01 have been published today and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
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NORTHERN IRELAND
Police Fund
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide details of the new Police Fund in Northern Ireland and indicate when he expects to appoint trustees to the Fund. [3415]
Jane Kennedy: The new Northern Ireland Police Fund, based on the recommendations in the Patten report, and the subsequent report carried out by Mr. John Steele, will provide assistance to police officers (who have been murdered or injured as a direct result of terrorism in Northern Ireland), their families and dependants. Indeed, lump sum payments of over £4 million have already been paid to a group of RUC widows widowed before 25 November 1982. Detailed work on the legal status of the fund, as well as on its funding, is continuing and the Government hope to announce the names of trustees shortly.
IT Contracts
Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the Information Technology contracts in excess of £500,000 let by his Department or
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its predecessor since April 1991, giving in each case the original estimated cost and original estimated completion date, the actual cost and actual completion date and the
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names of the contractors involved and consultants retained by his Department. [3504]
Jane Kennedy: The information is set out in the table.
| Estimated cost | Estimated completion | Actual cost (£) | Actual completion | Contractor | Consultant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oasis | ||||||
| £5,000,000 | December 1996 | 5,732,000 | November 1997 | Bull | ||
| DPPNet | ||||||
| £750,000 | February 1999 | 748,000 | March 1999 | Bull | ||
| Bloody Sunday Inquiry—Contract A | ||||||
| £1,800,000 | June 1998 | 2,500,000 (includes changes and additional input) | June 1998 | Bull | ||
| Bloody Sunday Inquiry—Contract B Hearings Installation | ||||||
| £2,000,000 | March 2000 | 2,000,000 (fixed price setup contract) | March 2000 | ICL | Deloitte and Touche | |
| Bloody Sunday Inquiry—Contract C Hearings Running Costs | ||||||
| £5,000,000 | Not known | Ongoing based on fixed cost of 225k per month | Not known | ICL | Deloitte and Touche | |
| Oasis Refresh | ||||||
| £1,900,000 | October 1999 | 2,255,000 | December 1999 | Compaq | ||
| Compass | ||||||
| £1,200,000 | November 2002 | On budget | On target | Picaso | ||
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