Raytheon demands £500m for e-Borders termination

Raytheon and the Home Office are in talks as the department tries to stop the company suing for unfair breach of contract over its sacking from the e-Borders programme last year, reports the Register . At the time, the UK Border Agency said it had no confidence in the company. Immigration minister Damian Green said: "The government is determined to get value for money from its major contracts and requires the highest standard of performance from its suppliers." Raytheon's chief executive has written a letter to the Home Affairs Select Committee which was leaked to the Telegraph. It claimed that: "Purported termination was unlawful and that Raytheon is entitled to recover substantial damages for wrongful termination... We have made counterclaims in the arbitration in excess of £500m in respect of these matters." The paper reckoned the committee would publish the letter later today, but a spokeswoman for the group said it was not sitting in parliament and therefore not releasing anything today. Raytheon declined to comment, citing confidential negotiations, but the Home Office confirmed that talks were ongoing. The contract with the company was terminated in July of last year, with the government citing a lack of confidence. This article is published by Guardian Professional. For weekly updates of news, debate and best practice on public sector IT, join the Government Computing Network here.