§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government received all payments and compensation owing from Siemens for computer work at the Immigration Department before Siemens was allowed to bid for the Vehicle Inspectorate system. [98242]
§ Mrs. RocheYes. Under the terms of the contract between the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) and Siemens Business Services (SBS), the financial risk for the late delivery of elements of the IND Casework Programme is borne by SBS. In September 1998 a package of changes to the contractual payment terms—in part to compensate for expenditure wasted as a result of the delays in delivering the Information Technology application—was negotiated with SBS and all agreed compensation payments have been received when due. Details of this package are commercially confidential and disclosure would place us in breach of contract.