§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what the total expenditure on the scheme to automate benefit payments at post offices has been to date; [84109]
309W(2) if he will publish a report on the trials for the automation of benefit payments at post offices and sub-post offices; and if he will make a statement; [84106]
(3) on what date the automation of benefit payments at post offices will be implemented nationally; [84107]
(4) what is the budget allocated to the (a) development and (b) implementation of the automation of benefit payments at post offices; [84108]
(5) what is his estimate of the cost of completing the automation of benefit payments at post offices. [84110]
§ Mr. TimmsTo date, the Department's total expenditure amounts to £268 million. This expenditure provides a range of services and an IT infrastructure that will also support our wider programme of modernisation.
We are monitoring the progress of the trials very closely. There are no plans to publish a report.
On present plans, automation of post offices will be completed within the next two years.
Under the terms of the PFI contract to automate business transacted at post offices, including the payment of benefits, ICL Pathway is responsible for the bulk of development and implementation. This Department has a budget of £1.2 billion (at 1997–98 prices for the period 1994–2005) for a range of services and IT infrastructure to support post office automation and the Department's wider programme of modernisation.
This Department, Post Office Counters Ltd. and ICL Pathway are presently working together to progress the project. The costs of completion will not be known until plans have been finalised.