R help - Nov 2010 - Importing triple-s (standard survey structure) files to R

Dear R mailing list

I am about to start working on a project for a market research 
customer.  Their survey data is in the triple-s format, and I need to 
import this into R.

The triple-s (standard survey structure) format is an open format for 
the exchange of survey data.  It consists of two files, both in plain 
text format.
- A text data file (.asc)
- A metadata (.sss) file that describes the survey and data structure

According the triple-s website this format is supported by a long list 
of survey and statistical software, including SPSS.  However, a search 
of Google, R-Site and the R mailing list archives reveals nothing at all.

I would be interested to know if anyone has prototype code for importing 
triple-s.  If nothing exists, I plan to write and contribute a package 
to do this, a starting point would be very helpful.

The current specification of triple-s support an XML format, so the way 
forward is probably to re-use the XML package code and build upon this.

More information at the triple-s website:
http://www.triple-s.org/ssssoft.htm

Regards

Andrie