Information on the CONNECT system

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.031729

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. How many critical or major incidents have been declared since the launch of CONNECT that relate to it in any way?
2. How many fault reports have been made internally relating to CONNECT?
3. Were concerns ever raised during the testing period of CONNECT Drop 2 that going ahead may cause people to die?
4. How much has been spent on CONNECT cumulatively to date?
5. How old is the underlying software used for CONNECT?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose some of the requested information. Some data has been withheld as it is exempt from disclosure and therefore this response serves as a Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) by virtue of the following exemptions:

Section 22(1) – Information intended for future publication

Reason for decision

Q1 - How many critical or major incidents have been declared since the launch of CONNECT that relate to it in any way?
Q2 - How many fault reports have been made internally relating to CONNECT?

Questions 1 and 2 are exempt from disclosure pursuant to the provisions of Section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ('the Act').

Disclosure

I have decided to disclose some of the requested information. Please find below information relating to Questions 3, 4 and 5.

Q3 - Were concerns ever raised during the testing period of CONNECT Drop 2 that going ahead may cause people to die?

This information is not held. We can find no record of anybody raising this specific concern.

Q4 - How much has been spent on CONNECT cumulatively to date?

Some of this data is in the public domain:
MOPAC - CONNECT Full Business Case(FBC) update.

Further details will be published in due course as part of our Publication Strategy.

Q5 - How old is the underlying software used for CONNECT?

This information is not held.