§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the cost in 2001–02 of the pilot scheme is for the online issue of claims. [14978]
§ Mr. WillsThe pilot project Money Claims Online is part of the Court Service's wider Courts and Tribunals Modernisation Programme. The one-off project costs are:
- £1,841,000 for design and development;
- £206,170 for project costs
- making a total of £2,047,170.
A yearly service charge of £885,000, will also apply.
The project has been delivered by the Court Service's existing PFI supplier, EDS Ltd., and links into existing systems for case management and document production at the Court Service's Bulk Centre in Northampton. Operational staffing costs to support the pilot project are approximately £48,000.
Electronic issue of claims (by computer media exchange) has functioned at the Bulk Centre for some years, with considerable efficiency gains for the Court Service. This pilot project aims to widen the scope for inclusion to all claims issuers. It will also contribute to the Government's plan for all services to be available electronically by 2005.