To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was paid by his Department to Capita Group plc and its subsidiaries in each financial year since 2000; which contracts were awarded by his Department to Capita Group plc in each year from 2000-01 to the most recent available date; what the cost was of each contract; what penalties for default were imposed in contract provisions; what the length was of each contract; whether the contract was advertised; how many companies applied for the contract; how many were short-listed; what criteria were used for choosing a company; what provision was made for renewal without re-tender in each case; and if he will make a statement. (180696)

The Northern Ireland Office paid Capita Group plc and its subsidiaries the following amounts in each year since 2000-01:

The contracts which have been awarded centrally to Capita Group plc and its subsidiaries since 2000-01 are as follows:

The payments which are not covered by central contracts are set up by departmental divisions using the departmental procurement guidelines. These divisional contracts are set up when their value is less than £10,000.

Penalties for default are illegal under UK Contract Law so incentives or pre-estimates of damages are commonly used instead.

As the information has been gathered from a number of business areas, provision of details relating to the length of the contracts; whether they were advertised; how many companies applied for each contract; how many companies were short listed for each contract; what criteria were used for choosing a company and what provision was made for renewal without re-tender could be provided only at disproportionate cost.