Deputy questions P&R on IT provider’s service
QUESTIONS have been asked on whether the States IT provider Agilisys makes up to a 200% profit margin on computer hardware, and whether there are long delays on orders of laptops for teachers and civil servants.
Deputy Bob Murray, a member of Education, Sport & Culture, has submitted two questions to Policy & Resources which relate to the IT company.
The first one is about laptops for public sector staff.
‘Please confirm whether it is the case that a large order of laptops placed with Agilisys in October 2020 remains unfulfilled some three months later, and that as a result there are numerous teachers needing to share laptops with each other, as well as civil servants unable to work remotely with fit-for-purpose laptops with appropriate data security protection built in?’
The next question concerns how IT equipment is bought and the costs involved.
‘Please confirm whether it is the case that, under the States contract with Agilisys, all computer hardware for the public sector can only be purchased centrally via Agilisys, and that the profit margin earned by Agilisys can be as much as 200% over and above the cost of exactly the same hardware if purchased elsewhere such as Amazon?’
The Guernsey Press gave Agilisys the right to respond yesterday, and Richard Hanrahan, the chief executive of Agilysis Guernsey, issued a short statement.
‘As an organisation that does the vast majority of its work for public services we recognise the importance of managing public funds appropriately.
‘We understand the importance of transparency in demonstrating value for money and are supporting the States to respond fully to Deputy Murray’s questions.
‘As these questions have been raised with the Policy & Resources Committee under rule 14, we believe it would be inappropriate for us to comment in advance of their response.
‘I welcome the opportunity to fully address any concerns that deputies hold.’
In 2019, the States signed a £200m. decade-long contract with Agilisys to modernise the States’ dated IT systems and improve the delivery of public services through digital technology.
