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2.16 Deputy M.R. Higgins of the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture regarding feedback from schools regarding the Managed Print Service Contract with Danwood:
Have the schools been given copies of the Managed Print Service Contract with Danwood negotiated by the States Procurement Team and, if so, when did they receive them and what feedback, if any, has the Minister received as to whether schools are achieving greater savings and getting a better, comparable or worse service than under their previous contracts?
Deputy P.J.D. Ryan of St. John (The Minister for Education, Sport and Culture):
The department has not seen a copy of the contract. It is not normal practice for departments to receive copies of contracts negotiated by the States Procurement Team and this is because they usually contain commercially sensitive information. However, the Education Department, and that includes schools, have been informed of the relevant operational details, for example, who the supplier is, naturally, and the prices that the schools are to pay. The transfer to Danwood is phased so not all schools are included at present. Ten out of 33 schools are currently using the full Managed Print Service but it is not yet clear what the level of overall savings will be once all the schools are involved.
- Deputy M.R. Higgins:
Is the Minister aware of the dissatisfaction in many of the schools, including Le Rocquier, who have not had a bill for their services and do not know how much they are going to pay, or Highlands, who are going to have to pay compensation of at least £47,000 to get out of their existing agreement and of headmasters who do not want Danwood machines in their schools and are being forced or coming under pressure to accept them.
The Deputy of St. John :
My information is that 2 schools have queried the level of saving opportunities and that Corporate Procurement is working with these schools to resolve their issues.
- Deputy T.A. Vallois:
Could the Minister advise what consultation was undertaken between the Procurement Team and the head teachers before this contract was brought together?
The Deputy of St. John :
I am not aware that there was any.
- Deputy T.M. Pitman:
Following on from a question I asked a couple of sittings ago, I believe, as Deputy Higgins has said, schools are facing severe problems because of this contract. Can the Minister advise how he is managing to differentiate between actual savings and schools who cannot deliver what they wish to because of the problems that have manifested themselves from this less than satisfactory contract?
The Deputy of St. John :
As I understand it, and I have already said so, Corporate Procurement is working with schools to resolve any of the issues that they have. I think it is true to say though that schools have specific requirements that are different to other areas of the States, which are mostly office based.
- Deputy T.A. Vallois:
If there was no consultation with the head teachers, how would the Procurement Team know that there would be savings?
The Deputy of St. John :
I cannot really answer the question, which should really be answered by the Procurement section, which would be the Minister for Treasury and Resources.
- Deputy M.R. Higgins:
Has the Minister seen sight of the Treasury's internal audit report on the Danwood contract, which I believe is highly critical, unlike what the States were told by the Minister for Treasury and Resources, who thought everything was wonderful?
The Deputy of St. John : No, I have not.