§ Mr. AllanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates for staff reductions were included in the business case for the new computer system at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; and what revisions have been made to take account of the delays in the programme for installation. [26074]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe estimated savings projected in the business case were based on staff reductions of 898 by 2001–2002. The business case estimated the benefit of the Programme to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate by balancing the savings against the charges which would be payable to Siemens Business Services. The majority of these charges are directly geared to the savings and do not become payable until the new computer system is operational. No revision to the business case will be made until revised dates for the installation and piloting of the solution have been agreed.
§ Mr. AllanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 January 1998,Official Report, column 633, on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, how many compulsory redundancies he expects to be required at the Directorate offices at Croydon in the years 1998–99 and 1999–2000. [26075]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienI do not expect any in the sense that they are planned. While it is not possible at this stage to rule out the need for compulsory redundancies, present indications are that compulsory redundancies are very unlikely.