HC Deb 02 March 1999 vol 326 cc712-3W
Mr. Rendel

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) when the contract to develop the new CSA computer system under the ACCORD project will be formally awarded; and if he will make a statement; [74224]

(2) how much the contract to develop the new CSA computer system under the ACCORD project will cost; and when the money for it was authorised. [74227]

Angela Eagle

In December 1998 the Department announced the setting up of the Modern Service One Project (MS1). This project represents the first key stage of the strategy to transform the Department's service delivery and supporting information systems in line with our objectives for modernising the service.

The modernisation of the Child Support Computer System is being taken forward as part of the MS1 Project. Negotiations are proceeding with AFFINITY under the ACCORD arrangements for the delivery of the IS/IT products required to support MS1. Currently the MS1 project is working with AFFINITY in the clarification and development of more detailed requirements and high level design of the first key products to be delivered. It is anticipated that this work, scheduled to take three months, will enable the Department to finalise contracted arrangements. Until the negotiations are complete costings for the new Child Support Computer System will not be available.

Mr. Rendel

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many hours downtime the current CSA computer system has experienced each week in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98. [74225]

Angela Eagle

The information is in the table and shows the weeks in which there was downtime in 1996–91 and 1997–98.

Period week commencing Downtime Hours
Service availability—by week—1996–97
1 April 1996 1.60
29 April 1996 0.48
27 May 1996 0.08
17 June 1996 4.32
29 July 1996 7.90
12 August 1996 0.50
21 October 1996 1.91
4 November 1996 0.60
11 November 1996 0.10
18 November 1996 0.30
6 January 1997 0.50
3 February 1997 0.50
10 February 1997 0.10
Service availability—by week—1997–98
14 April 1997 0.10
21 April 1997 0.10
28 April 1997 0.10
12 May 1997 9.66
2 June 1997 1.00
30 June 1997 1.70
14 June 1997 0.10
28 July 1997 0.30
11 August 1997 0.10
26 January 1998 0.98
16 March 1998 0.32

Notes:

The downtime is attributable to the Child Support System Mainframe and the software that runs on it.