HL Deb 10 January 2000 vol 608 c74WA
Earl Attlee

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What use is made of the UNICOM computer system in administering summary jurisdiction. [HL407]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Following the summary dealing process, the charge sheet and trial results are entered on a computer generated conduct sheet. The summary dealing results are forwarded via the UNICOM link to the Army Personnel Centre where the results are acted upon to implement a fine, stoppage of pay, or detention. All company level entries remain on the unit level UNICOM until they are spent. Regimental level entries are entered on a mainframe computer at Worthy Down which records a soldier's pay and record of service.

Earl Attlee

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When development of the army's current UNICOM computer system was first started; and what has been the cost of the system to date. [HL408]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Following successful feasibility studies and trials, the development of the Army's current UNICOM computer system began in March 1994. The cost of the system in terms of introduction, support and maintenance, to date, is £107 million.

UNICOM is a computerised Information System providing administrative support to the Army. For example, the pay of everyone in the Army is calculated on the basis of data fed into UNICOM. It has around 20,000 users and has been deployed to over 500 sites worldwide.