1.1 In January 2004, the Inland Revenue, now HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), signed a contract with Capgemini to provide information, communication and technology (ICT) services. HMRC called the contract Aspire (Acquiring Strategic Partners for the Inland Revenue) and it is the government's largest technology contract. It maintains and, where necessary, replaces ICT hardware and software and carries out new technology projects. HMRC uses this technology to collect £500 billion of tax revenues a year, so it is essential to HMRC's and the government's work.