§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the cost to date of reimbursing employees in his Department who ran up overdrafts and bank charges due to computer malfunction in his Department in July; if he will list by month for the last 24 months the number of occasions similar computer malfunctions have occurred and the cost to his Department on each occasion; and if he will make a statement.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe cost of reimbursing employees due to a late payment of Employment Department group salaries in July 1994 was £28,969. The only other similar occurrence in the last 24 months was in February 1993 when the cost was £25,980. A complete review of the systems of control has been undertaken which should make it unlikely that a similar problem could occur again.