Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 10 March 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 March 2004. It was answered by David Jamieson (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 March 2004 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Dept for Transport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answers of 8th March 2004, 418 c1237-8W, on computerised MOT test, what assessment his Department has made of the effects of succession planning of this project.

Answer: Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answers of 8 March 2004, Official Report, columns 1237-8W, on computerised MOT test, what assessment his Department has made of the effects of succession planning of this project. [161555] Mr. Jamieson: In the event of termination, the contract with SBS provides a variety of options for transfer of key elements of the system to VOSA or a new contractor including, outright purchase, lease, replacement or alternative source. In summary these include: access to system hardware and accommodation; access to software or other licences and to sub-contracted services; transfer of staff. The approach, in the event, will depend whether the affected elements are used solely for MOT Computerisation or whether as a whole, or in part, they are used to provide other services. It will also depend on the extent to which they are critical to computerisation and cannot be obtained elsewhere. Where an item itself cannot be provided, SBS has to provide replacements or appropriate alternatives.

Secondary information