§ Mr. WalterTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been(a) the annual cost since its introduction of the Animal Health Computer System in Northern Ireland and (b) the approximate cost per movement in the latest financial year. [21761]
§ Mr. Paul Murphy(a) the annual cost of the system since its introduction in 1988–89 is as follows:
£ 1988–89 133,871 1989–90 368,156 1990–91 477,797 1991–92 522,856 1992–93 540,295 1993–94 560,559 1994–95 556,142 1995–96 568,814 1996–97 565,187 The figures comprise staff costs of the central computer unit, the maintenance of the system by external contractors and the rental of data circuits.
(b) the approximate cost per movement in the latest financial year (1996–97) is £0.32 based on 1,750,000 movements at a cost of £565,187.
§ Mr. WalterTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate she has made of the savings to the Veterinary Service of the Department of Agriculture by the introduction of the Animal Health Computer System. [21762]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThe Net Present Value of the investment in the Animal Health Computer System is estimated at £7 million in 1997–98. The on-going savings are currently estimated at £7 million in 1997–98. The on-going savings are currently estimated at £2.7 million per annum. These savings include significant notional elements in that the increased efficiencies arising from the computer facility enabled the Department to redeploy a number of typing, clerical and field staff to other activities.
§ Mr. WalterTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the(a) capital cost and (b) annual cost of the Animal and Public Health Information System and the approximate cost per livestock movement. [21763]
§ Mr. Paul Murphy(a) the capital cost of the Animal and Public Health Information System (APHIS) is estimated at £2.25 million.
(b) the estimated annual cost of APHIS is as follows:
285W
£ 1998–99 473,000 1999–2000 537,000 2000–01 577,000 2001–02 458,000 2002–03 462,000 2003–04 465,000 The figures comprise staff costs of the central computer unit, the maintenance of the system by external contractors and the rental of data circuits.
(c) the approximate cost per movement based upon 1,750,000 movements is estimated at around £0.30.
§ Mr. WalterTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she plans to introduce charges to farmers, auctioneers or abattoirs for the Animal and Public Health Information System; and what the scale of those charges will be. [21764]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyThe question of charging will be considered later this year in parallel with the introduction of the Animal and Public Health Information System.