Capita wins £70m benefit records IT deal

Capita has won a £70m contract to manage records storage and retrieval for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The seven-year deal will see Capita make technological enhancements to improve access, retrieval and tracking of around 60 million social security and disability benefit claim forms and related files.

As part of the contract, Capita will be responsible for consolidating the existing 44 files stores in the UK to one central location at Heywood in Lancashire, where a three-year migration project will see the transfer of the present file stores.

Mike Day, head of support service projects at the procurement division of the DWP, said the department is working closely with Capita to ensure a "seamless transition".

"This project will enhance today's service and, as a result, make it more cost effective for the department and taxpayers in turn," he said in a statement.