HC Deb 15 January 1998 vol 304 cc284-5W
Mr. Walter

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been(a) the annual cost since its introduction of the Animal Health Computer System in Northern Ireland and (b) the approximate cost per movement in the latest financial year. [21761]

Mr. Paul Murphy

(a) the annual cost of the system since its introduction in 1988–89 is as follows:

£
1988–89 133,871
1989–90 368,156
1990–91 477,797
1991–92 522,856
1992–93 540,295
1993–94 560,559
1994–95 556,142
1995–96 568,814
1996–97 565,187

The figures comprise staff costs of the central computer unit, the maintenance of the system by external contractors and the rental of data circuits.

(b) the approximate cost per movement in the latest financial year (1996–97) is £0.32 based on 1,750,000 movements at a cost of £565,187.

Mr. Walter

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate she has made of the savings to the Veterinary Service of the Department of Agriculture by the introduction of the Animal Health Computer System. [21762]

Mr. Paul Murphy

The Net Present Value of the investment in the Animal Health Computer System is estimated at £7 million in 1997–98. The on-going savings are currently estimated at £7 million in 1997–98. The on-going savings are currently estimated at £2.7 million per annum. These savings include significant notional elements in that the increased efficiencies arising from the computer facility enabled the Department to redeploy a number of typing, clerical and field staff to other activities.

Mr. Walter

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the(a) capital cost and (b) annual cost of the Animal and Public Health Information System and the approximate cost per livestock movement. [21763]

Mr. Paul Murphy

(a) the capital cost of the Animal and Public Health Information System (APHIS) is estimated at £2.25 million.

(b) the estimated annual cost of APHIS is as follows:

£
1998–99 473,000
1999–2000 537,000
2000–01 577,000
2001–02 458,000
2002–03 462,000
2003–04 465,000

The figures comprise staff costs of the central computer unit, the maintenance of the system by external contractors and the rental of data circuits.

(c) the approximate cost per movement based upon 1,750,000 movements is estimated at around £0.30.

Mr. Walter

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she plans to introduce charges to farmers, auctioneers or abattoirs for the Animal and Public Health Information System; and what the scale of those charges will be. [21764]

Mr. Paul Murphy

The question of charging will be considered later this year in parallel with the introduction of the Animal and Public Health Information System.