Section 7. Unless otherwise required by section 6A of chapter 31 or any other general or special law to the contrary, the secretary shall design and implement a program for performance evaluation of employees. The sole purpose of the program shall be the improvement of the performance of individual employees and the department and, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, all information compiled by said program shall be confidential and shall not be public records under section 10 of chapter 66 or clause Twenty-sixth of section 7 of chapter 4. The department may consult with individuals and organizations and may contract for technical assistance for the purpose of the program to the extent it deems necessary.