§ Sir John HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will be renewing investment decisions on(a) the replacement or enhancement of all three services' individual computer systems and (b) the establishment of a new Army personnel centre in Glasgow following the Bett study report. [23701]
§ Mr. SoamesHarmonisation of all defence administrative computer systems is a departmental aim arising from the "Front Line First" studies. In the case of personnel administration and pay systems, Mr. Bett has recommended that the harmonisation process should be undertaken by a defence agency, which should be set up within three years. He envisaged that it might then take about five years to develop a fully integrated personnel administration and pay system to operate across the services. We shall be examining this recommendation carefully in consultation with the services. In the meantime, our plans for the creation of the Army personnel centre in Glasgow are not inconsistent with the230W ultimate creation of a defence agency and we are proceeding with them.
Investment decisions on replacement or enhancement of the services' existing systems will take fully into account the need for harmonisation.