HL Deb 27 March 1996 vol 570 cc139-40WA
Lord Reay

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they plan to introduce computers into the handling of immigration casework.

Baroness Blatch

The Immigration and Nationality Department has developed a programme to computerise the handling of immigration casework in order to deliver improvements in service, to strengthen the administration of the control and to produce substantial efficiency savings. A seven year contract is to be awarded to Siemens Business Services under the private finance initiative, by means of which the company will design, build, finance and operate a comprehensive new IT system for this purpose and assist IND in the introduction of appropriate working methods.