HL Deb 21 July 1997 vol 581 c142WA
The Earl of Haddington

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Williams of Mostyn on 9 July (WA 78), what stages of implementation are planned for the information technology programme to update the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and Immigration Service, and when they are expected to be fully deployed.

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Under the terms of the Casework Programme contract, progress towards full implementation is in six phases. Work is currently proceeding on the fourth of these phases (design and development of the supporting infrastructure), which is planned to be completed by 31 October. Implementation begins in the fifth phase (system acceptance and pilot review) and is expected to have reached an intermediate stage in the Croydon offices by 30 April next year: this will mark the end of the fifth phase. The final phase, during which implementation in Croydon will be completed and the availability of the system will be extended to the Nationality Directorate in Liverpool and certain other Immigration and Nationality Directorate and Immigration Service locations, is planned to end on 31 October next year.