To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces (a) have fully implemented and (b) are piloting ExISS r1; how much has been spent on the programme in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement. (195610)

I have been asked to reply.

ExISS release 1 (which comprises both the police-CPS link and the police to magistrates court link) is currently being rolled out nationally and, as such, there are no pilot forces. As of the 19 March 2008, the police to CPS link had been rolled out to 13 police forces, while the police to magistrates court link had been rolled out to 17 police forces. The planned completion date for roll-out to all forces is December 2008.

The Exchange Links programme (which delivers a number of links including release 1) commenced in July 2007 and the expected costs to December 2008 are £15.54 million, exclusive of ongoing run costs and costs associated with capital charges and depreciation.