Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 15 July (WA 111), on what date the contract with Raytheon Systems Limited for the e-Borders system was terminated and what had been the total cost of the system to public funds up to that date; and when the binding arbitration proceedings on that contract were initiated and when they are expected to be completed.

The e-Borders contract with Raytheon Systems Limited (RSL), a subsidiary of Raytheon Company, was terminated for cause on 22 July 2010. It will not be possible to confirm total cost to that date, or the estimate of remaining costs, until the binding arbitration following the termination of the contract with RSL is complete and we have been advised that it is legally appropriate.The Home Office initiated arbitration proceedings on 18 August 2010. The Home Office would like the dispute with RSL to be concluded as swiftly as possible. It is not unusual that an international arbitration of this complexity should take a considerable time to resolve. The Home Office has done everything possible to progress the Arbitration as quickly as possible.