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New full and affiliate members Pierre Burger, Philip Prestage, Colin Przystupa, Roger Noakes, John Fleming and James Wheeler were presented with their membership certificates by Roy Sutherland, Chairman, at the recent Association of Security Consultants (ASC) quarterly Business Club Seminar held recently in St. James's, London.

National Audit Office Press Notice

13/07/07

National Audit Office Press Notice
THIS STATEMENT IS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY 28 JUNE 2007

National Audit Office launches tool to help government departments improve their use of consultants
Public bodies will be able to achieve greater value for money from their use of consultants, as the National Audit Office today launches an online assessment tool.

Both Sir Gus O'Donnell and the Public Accounts Committee have said that improving the way that public bodies use consultants is a top priority. Based on a report by the National Audit Office, the Public Accounts Committee said earlier this month that over £500 million in efficiency gains are possible across the public sector.

The NAO's toolkit is based on the approach it used in its December 2006 report. Assessors answer a series of questions about the use of consultants in an online form. The interactive toolkit then responds with an analysis of areas of weakness, provides guidance on how to improve value for money and illustrates what good practice can look like through case studies.

Keith Davis, Head of Efficiency Practice at the NAO, said:

Consultants can provide valuable expertise to government. But too often departments rush into using consultants before thinking properly about whether resources are available in-house. This toolkit can help all public bodies improve their use of consultants and help realise the £500 million of efficiency gains that are achievable in central government alone.

The toolkit is aimed at procurement or commercial teams, customers/buyers of consultancy, or audit staff. It can be applied to the use of consultants department-wide, or at a project-level and is designed to diagnose areas of weakness and raise awareness of where improvements can be made.

The toolkit is launched today on the NAO website and is available at www.nao.org.uk/efficiency.

Notes for Editors

Press notices and reports are available from the date of publication on the NAO website, which is at www.nao.org.uk. Hard copies can be obtained from The Stationery Office on 0845 702 3474.
The Comptroller and Auditor General, Sir John Bourn, is the head of the National Audit Office which employs some 850 staff. He and the NAO are totally independent of Government. He certifies the accounts of all Government departments and a wide range of other public sector bodies and he has statutory authority to report to Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which departments and other bodies have used their resources.
Press Notice 30/07
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Left to right: Laurie Doust (ASC Secretary), Keith Carey (Salto Systems), Ramesh Gurdev (Salto Systems), Roy Sutherland (ASC Chairman)

Left to right: Simon Lambert (ASC Member), Roy Sutherland (ASC Chairman), Kevin Quinn (Acting ASC Secretary).

Roy also welcomed back Laurie Doust, ASC Secretary, from his most recent journey and said that "if Laurie goes on any more cruises, we'll have to club together and buy him a boat!".

Salto Systems sponsored the event, with Keith Carey giving an introduction to the company. Keith then handed over the meeting to Ramesh Gurdev, whose presentation included available access control technologies and how to increase access security. Ramesh concluded by giving a fascinating insight into the future of access of control, including trends and solutions.

Robert Powell of Integrated Payment Solutions provided information about Smart Cards and how the applications can be integrated. He also gave details about campus and company wide solutions. Robert concluded with his thoughts about facts and fictions of the Mifare world which were of great interest to the capacity audience.

An insight into the role and charitable aims of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals (WCoSP) was given by Andrew Knights, Treasurer of the WCoSP.

Simon Lambert (ASC Member) gave an excellent and light hearted insight into the problems that can be faced when deciding what digital video recording systems to buy and install. His candid thoughts were well received by the audience.

Roy Sutherland brought the formal proceedings to a close by thanking all those who had provided the interesting presentations and to Salto Systems for sponsoring the event.

Roy reminded everyone that the next Business Club Seminar will be held on 9^th September 2010. He also mentioned that CONSEC, the ASC's annual international conference and exhibition, will be held on Thursday, 4 November 2010, at the RAF Museum at Hendon. He indicated that another exciting programme is being finalised for this year and that there are only a few spaces left for exhibitors.

Everyone then adjourned to the bar and to partake of a vast and delicious buffet luncheon, and to take the opportunity to chat with old friends and make new ones.

The ASC organises a number of prominent events during the year, which are of importance to both ASC members and others who are interested in security issues and technical innovations.

ASC

Association of Security Consultants

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