The BBC reports that secret documents show a scramble to safeguard critical public services from the potential collapse of tech giant Atos, which works with billions of pounds worth of government contracts.
Files seen by the BBC show work has been under way with consultants since January, aiming to limit “severe implications” to essential services by lining up alternative IT providers.
The UK government outsources IT services, including for NHS records and disability benefits, to the French IT giant’s UK arm, which admitted being more than £3bn in debt in April and is now undergoing financial restructuring.
The risk assessments, first reported by i news, external, show the Cabinet Office and Ministry of Justice hired consultants PwC to review the company, described as “in financial distress” to “ensure continuity of critical public services”.
The BBC has seen the unredacted files, which were mistakenly released into the public domain by the Cabinet Office in May, although hastily replaced with blanked-out pages.
The documents reveal PwC was hired to work on a risk assessment project codenamed “Project Aztec” at the start of the year.
Full story in BBC News, 19 June 2024
