HC Deb 03 April 2001 vol 366 cc142-3W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what organisational and accommodation changes have taken place in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate since 1 April 2000; what further changes are planned for the financial year 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [156088]

Mrs. Roche

Since April 2000, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's (IND) staff has increased by 3,079 full-time equivalents to 9,096 at the end of March 2001. We have taken on leases for space in 15 extra office buildings to accommodate these staff, who are delivering improved service on immigration and nationality casework, asylum support and immigration control. Over the coming financial year we expect staffing to increase to about 10,000 full-time equivalents and will take on space in another 12 office buildings. There will also be a phased return to the newly refurbished Lunar House in Croydon. Changes in organisational structures are made as required to support delivery of services: most significant in the last year has been to combine the Integrated Casework Directorate, Immigration Service and National Asylum Support Service into the Operations Directorate.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new computer systems(a) have been and (b) are planned to be installed in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in (i) the current financial year and (ii) the financial year 2001–02. [156084]

Mrs. Roche

The main focus in 2000–01 has been the continuing evolutionary development and roll-out of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's (IND) two main infrastructure systems POISE and TBC. POISE was supported by Sema until February 2001 and is now supported by Sirius, as the main Home Office Information Technology supplier. TBC is supported by Siemens Business Services.

In addition the following four major new systems were implemented: IAF Project (Automated Fingerprint System)—This system allows fingerprints to be automatically matched against IND's collection of 350,000 fingerprint records. ACID Warehouse—This is a data warehouse developed by Siemens and used to collate case information held on a large number of existing IND systems. ASYS—A computer system on POISE supporting the operation of the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) Directorate. Interpreters Database—Information about interpreters used throughout IND is now available on both POISE and TBC.

Redevelopment of the Warnings Index also continued, with new hardware and software rolled out early in 2001. Further changes will be completed it 2001–02.

In 2001–02 evolutionary development of the POISE and TBC systems will continue, with particular emphasise on the sharing of information across the two systems.

There will be enhancements to ASYS and wider roll-out of ACID Warehouse. Siemens will make a number of other low-risk improvements to the TBC system.

A review of the use of Information Technology within the Immigration Service is also currently taking place. Work is already in hand on a management information system for Detention Centres (DELMIS).