To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list each of the functions relating to the payroll for which his Department is responsible, indicating the management systems purchased, all sub-contractors involved in the work, co-operative arrangements with other Departments and the costs of the systems and processes in the last year for which figures are available. [10729]

My Department authorises Chessington Computer Services Ltd., through its standard payroll input and retrieval system—SPIRE—to undertake the full range of payroll functions covering all staff including those in next steps agencies and, until 1 August those in the Government Office for the Regions.My Department also carries out payroll work on behalf of the Office of the Rail Regulator and the London Regional Passengers Committee. Total costs in 1996–97, inclusive of internal and Chessington charges, were £2.04 million.