HC Deb 26 May 2004 vol 421 cc1656-7W
Mr. Carmichael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the disposal of computers formerly used by his Department. [175284]

Fiona Mactaggart

[holding answer 24 May 2004]: The majority of the computers used within the core Home Office are supplied as part of a managed service by Sirius (the Home Office's IT supplier) and as such are not assets owned by the Authority. Although Sirius are contractually obliged to ensure the erasure of any Home Office data held on their assets, the responsibility for the disposal of obsolete or surplus assets belonging to Sirius lies solely with them.

Those core Home Office assets not covered by the Sirius contract are managed by the Information Management Technology Unit (IMTU) and responsibility for dispersal of assets rests with their Out of Scope Team.

To reduce budget costs, if possible the assets are redeployed elsewhere within the core Home Office. If not and as Government Accounting rules require Departments to ensure the best possible price is obtained when disposing of surplus IT equipment, a registered GCat supplier for the provision of ethical and environmentally friendly disposal services are asked to dispose of the assets on their behalf.

While the Home Office pays for this service, should the assets be sold on the Home Office receives 75 per cent. of the sale price.

Mr. Carmichael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the role of Fujitsu in providing computer services for the Home Office. [175285]

Fiona Mactaggart

[holding answer 24 May 2004]: Fujitsu is the main contractor supplying infrastructure and desktop services to the core Home Office including the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) and the Youth Justice Board as a result of being awarded the IT2000 Contract in 2000. IT 2000 is a 10 year Public Finance Intiative contract establishing a private public partnership between the Home Office (excluding agencies and parts of IND covered by the Siemens caseworking service).

These services range from support for software including application management (e.g. POEMS) and standard toolsets (e.g. Adobe Acrobat) to hardware devices including desktop and remote access laptops.

They also manage the supply of voice services to the core Home Office (excluding IND) via their subcontractor Global Crossing.