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Government: IT Services

Answer

The Department for Work and Pensions has a portfolio of commercial arrangements through which it secures the current, and future, provision of information technology (IT) services. This portfolio comprises department-specific arrangements, as well as wider public sector agreements available via the Office of Government Commerce. Contracts awarded under those arrangements covered the provision of: the Customer Information System (2003), the Pensions Transformation Project (2003), the Resource Management System (Development-2003 and Operation-2004), and the Central Payments System (2006). All of these provide an element of future services; for example, to meet new business requirements. We are currently agreeing contracts to cover the IT services required to support the delivery of the new employment and support allowance. Additionally, in 2005, the department realigned its existing contracts to deliver IT support and telephony services with electronic data systems (EDS) and BT until 2010. The contract re-alignment simplified the complex structure of separate contracts inherited by the department when it was created out of the former Department of Social Security and the Department for Education and Employment. Benefits to the department include upgraded IT systems, improved system performance at highly competitive prices and a modernised voice over internet protocol (VOIP) communications network with new contact centre technology, to provide the department, and its customers, with a more reliable, better-performing service. The department periodically reviews its commercial arrangements to ensure that they continue to meet the business need and deliver appropriate value for money.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

5328; 695 c55WA

Session

2006-07

Subjects

Contracts Department for Work and Pensions ICT Private sector

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk