asked the Minister for Social Welfare if any private consultants have been engaged by his Department within the last year; if so, the names of these consultants; the terms of their engagement; the fees paid to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Engagement of Private Consultants.
136.
The Department engage consultancy assistance principally to assist in the development of computer systems aimed at modernising payment systems and to provide analysis of specific organisational issues. This year to date the Department have engaged consultants on the following projects:
Arthur Andersen & Co.
Book Security Enhancement — £216,953 — to assist in the development of a modernised book issue system for Pensions, Child Benefit and Family Income Supplement payments.
Central Records — £38,375 — to conduct a strategic feasibility study on the development and implementation of a new Central Records system.
Cara Datacom
Telecommunications Network — £6,600 — to provide technical assistance and advice on the installation of telecommunications equipment.
Jim Walsh PR
Public Relations — £6,250 — to provide public relations advice on various issues.
Online Computing
Software Research — £2,400 — to provide assistance on the application and implementation of a text retrieval software package. In addition payments have been made during 1987 to the following companies in respect of projects initiated during 1986:—
Craig Gardner — £155,547 — in connection with the security review of the major payment systems with a view to establishing where they are most at risk and to advise on the most costeffective measures to keep these risks to a minimum.
Learmonth & Burchett — £51,549 — on training and on the introduction of development techniques and standards for the Computer Division.
Prism Computing — £13,578 — for work on the implementation of the treatment benefits system.
System Dynamics — £72,939 — to assist with the development of the free schemes computer system to cater for the processing of all free scheme claims — free travel, free telephone allowance, etc.