HC Deb 28 April 1998 vol 311 cc95-6W
Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans are in place for the use of information technology in processing asylum claims which were not in place on 1 May 1997; [39387]

(2) how much spending on the deployment of information technology in the processing of asylum claims has been planned for, which was not planned for on 1 May 1997; [39388]

(3) if, in respect of the 1996 contract between his Department and Siemens for computer supply at the Immigration and Nationality Department, at Lunar House, he will list the purposes for which the computer services were described as being acquired at the time the contract was concluded and, make a statement on the extent to which the computer services are currently used for the processing of asylum claims; if the computer services are to be used to a greater extent for the processing of future asylum claims; and what representations he has received from trade unions at Lunar House regarding the computer contract. [39386]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

When the award of the Casework Programme contract was announced by the previous Government, its purpose was stated to be to computerise the handling of immigration casework, and the present Government have decided to proceed with the project. The project extended to asylum casework in the same way as to other types of immigration casework. Under the previous Government, it was planned that staff cuts would help fund the cost of the Casework Programme. The present Government did not make the planned staff cuts in 1997–98 and those staff are currently deployed in reducing the large number of cases which the present Administration inherited.

In broad terms, there has been no change over the past twelve months in plans for expenditure on information technology in asylum casework. The Casework Programme system is not available but the intention is to use it extensively on future asylum casework.

The Casework Programme will allow greater flexibility in the use of resources, but the priority that can be given to asylum casework will depend on the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Reviews.

Both my right hon. Friend and I have had meetings with the Home Office trade unions about the expected consequences of the Casework Programme.