Written question asked by Lord Field of Birkenhead (Labour) on Thursday, 15 February 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 6 March 2001. It was answered by Jack Straw (Labour) on Tuesday, 6 March 2001 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the IT projects currently undertaken in his Department; and if he will state the (a) expected completion date and (b) cost of each project. - Inc refs to 362 c265-6W and 362 c497W, 30 January 2001. (Holding answer 26 February 2001).

Answer: Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the IT projects currently undertaken in his Department; and if he will state the (a) expected completion date and (b) cost of each project. [151515] Mr. Straw: [holding answer 26 February 2001]: I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 30 January 2001, Official Report, column 165W. The reply contained a list, in table format, of the current major Information Technology (IT) projects within my Department and its Agencies (excluding non-departmental public bodies). This has been placed in the Library. Further information on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) casework programme was given in a parliamentary reply to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lancashire (Mr. Pickthall) on 6 February 2001, Official Report, column 497W. The following provides an update on the details contained in the list on the Asylum Support project. The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is developing the Asylum Support IT by taking a step by step approach, building on the minimal "day one" system implemented in time for the start of the National Asylum Support Service on 4 April 2000. One possible area for enhancement is in the use of software to develop document scanning and workflow techniques allowing case data to be passed electronically.

Secondary information