§ Mr. SinghTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consideration he has given to re-investing the projected efficiency savings from the computerisation of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in order to eliminate the backlog of asylum applications; [26518]
741W(2) what efficiency savings, expressed as a percentage, he expects to result from the computerisation of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. [26515]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe Immigration and Nationality Directorate Caseworking Programme is a privately financed project where the supplier, Siemens Business Services, shares the efficiency benefits as payment for the Programme. Any substantial increase in casework output in order to reduce backlogs would require additional funding. The future funding levels will be decided in the light of the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Reviews. Siemens Business Services forecast that, when fully effective, the new systems will improve efficiency by 40 per cent.