HC Deb 17 March 1999 vol 327 cc1111-2
9. Fiona Mactaggart (Slough)

What assessment he has made of the introduction of new IT systems across government; and if he will make a statement. [75365]

The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr. Peter Kilfoyle)

Major information technology-related initiatives have been launched across government, including in the areas of education, social security, health and crime reduction. We will publish information in the early summer about progress towards the Prime Minister's 25 per cent. target.

Fiona Mactaggart

My concern is that my hon. Friend inherited a situation in which several very large IT projects were under way—some of them delayed under the private finance initiative—and that there is not a sufficient drawing together of the different approaches to information technology in different Departments. Is there any role that the Cabinet Office could play in getting a unified IT strategy throughout government?

Mr. Kilfoyle

My hon. Friend should await the publication of the White Paper, in which she will find the answer to her question. She will be very pleasantly surprised by the initiatives that the Government are undertaking to tackle the problems which, as she rightly said, we inherited from the previous Government, with computer systems that were incompatible and did not speak to each other.

Mr. James Gray (North Wiltshire)

What has happened to electronic red boxes?

Mr. Kilfoyle

Quite simply, things have moved on since then: we now have an extremely effective Government secure intranet, and we are investigating other ways of providing all members of the Government with secure electronic communications.

Mr. Tom Clarke (Coatbridge and Chryston)

In drawing up policy for access to information technology, will my hon. Friend remember the needs of disabled people, and especially those who need to use voice-activated equipment? Will he ensure that, consistent with last night's excellent presentation by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People and the Trades Union Congress, those organisations are indeed consulted?

Mr. Kilfoyle

I can assure my right hon. Friend that the contents of the White Paper will reflect the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office for mainstreaming equal opportunities, in access to IT, as in other matters.