§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for introducing computers into the handling of immigration casework. [23566]
§ Mr. KirkhopeThe 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 information technology system for this purpose and assist IND in the introduction of appropriate working methods.