Intelligence system faces delays

The report found an MI5 computer system was overbudget

The UK intelligence community is facing problems and delays with important new computer systems, a report has found.

A communication system linking UK intelligence agencies, called Scope, is three years behind schedule, MPs say.

The parliamentary intelligence and security committee also found an overhaul of MI5's computer system to be overbudget and below capability.

The government said MI5 had taken steps to combat its problems, and delays to Scope helped to ensure a robust system.

The problems add to a string of IT failures in government departments.

'More robust'

The parliamentary committee exists to oversee the work of intelligence agencies.

They found that Scope, a secure web-based communication system linking the main intelligence agencies, would not be in place until 2007, instead of 2004 as originally planned.

In previous reports, the committee had highlighted concern with Scope over security and funding.

But in its latest report, the committee said the delay had allowed some of these previous problems to be resolved, allowing "a significantly more robust programme, with better risk management, to be developed".

The committee also found the total cost of a new computer system within MI5 would be 50% more than the original estimate.

"We have been told that the project will now deliver less capability than previously planned and it will cost at least 50% more than originally projected," the committee said.

"We are concerned that the Security Service does not yet have sufficient project managers or expertise to manager all their IT and capital projects at the same time."

System failures

They added that problems over the project had led to the management team in charge of the system being replaced.

The government responded to the report saying the delays to Scope had benefited the intelligence community through the creation of a more robust system.

It added MI5 director general Eliza Manningham-Buller was aware of the problems facing the agency's IT infrastructure problems, and said MI5 had taken steps to recruit specialised project managers.

The problems are the latest in a number of crashes and failures to hit government departments.

Last year, police forces in England and Wales could not access national fingerprint records for up to a week because of a computer failure.

Other computer problems included system failures at the Child Support Agency and Passport Agency, National Insurance computers and at the Department for Work and Pensions.