To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any contracts between Capita Group plc and his Department have been cancelled before completion since 1997; and whether Capita Group plc has been liable for any penalties arising from failings in the administration of contracts since 1997. (303090)

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO), including its arms length bodies and the Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland, but excluding its agencies and NDPBs, has no record of any contracts awarded to Capita Group plc since 1997.

The NIO departmental disposal policy states that records of contracts do not have to be held longer than six years and financial records seven years. Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) records go back to 2001. No records are available beyond this year.

The information provided is based on contracts which have been conducted through the NIO central procurement unit prior to November 2003 and the Department of Finance and Personnel’s CPD since November 2003.