HC Deb 18 July 2002 vol 389 cc565-6W
Mr. Gummer

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 5 February 2002,Official Report, column 882W, if he will place in the Library a full description of the network information database. [70070]

Beverley Hughes

I presume that the right hon. Member is referring to the Case Information Database (CID), which was developed and implemented during 2001–02 as the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND's) main database system.

It is not intended to place a description of the database in the Library.

The functionality and data management is subject to continual revision. In that connection, a significant enhancement programme is currently under way to enable the implementation of many IND policy initiatives and process improvements planned for the next two years. It is considered that the work required in maintaining a "full description" of the database would prove disproportionate.

Mr. Gummer

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) pursuant to his answer of 5 February 2002,Official Report, column 882W, if he will place in the Library an explanation of how the database will be used to monitor the Department's performance; [70072]

(2) pursuant to his answer of 5 February 2002, Official Report, column 882W, when the casework information database will be fully operational. [70071]

Beverley Hughes

The Case Information Database (CID) was successfully developed and implemented during 2001–02 as the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND's) main database system.

It is not intended to place in the Library an explanation specifically of how CID is used to monitor performance. The means by which IND monitors its business and it's approach to performance management generally are described within documents such as IND's Business Plan and the plans of individual units within IND.