The Earl of Haddingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 9 July 1997 (WA 78), whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of all documentation relating to the computerisation of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, the Document Reception Centre, the Public Enquiry Office and the casework programme, in particular in relation to the service provision contract awarded to Siemens Business Services under the private finance initiative, including all pages of the contract with Siemens Business Services previously withheld in the answer on 9 July 1997. [HL2259]
§ Lord Williams of Mostyn:The position with regard to commercial confidentiality remains as set out in my previous answer to which the noble Earl refers. The Home Office is bound by the provisions of the casework programme contract not to disclose aspects of that contract which are the subject of commercial confidentiality, and accordingly we are unable to place in the Library of the House the schedule describing the charging mechanism. The contract with Siemens Business Services governs the computerisation of all the areas to which the Question refers.