VAT inspectors get mobile link-up

UK VAT inspectors are to be given mobile access to the HM Customs and Excise network via laptop computers.

The move is part of a £500m, 10 year private finance deal - with a consortium led by ICL - to boost the department's IT systems. It is hoped the system will improve efficiency and help fraud, drugs and trade investigations.

A spokesman for ICL said: "At present, all information used by VAT inspectors on call is paper based. We hope to create electronic folders which inspectors will carry around with them. Information will be entered directly and downloaded that day from the inspector's home, for example. The whole system will be more streamlined."

As part of the deal 370 IT staff will be transferred to ICL

The consortium also includes Racal, Mitsubishi and Microsoft. Racal, providers of telecoms, and defence and industrial electronics, will manage the voice and data networks. Microsoft will provide the core software of the new infrastructure with Windows NT, Exchange and Office software, while Mitsubishi will help design, build and manage a desktop system for 24,000 staff.

ICL said all contracts should be signed by spring this year.