§ Mr. Warrenasked the Minister for the Civil Service what plans he has to alter the contracts for the supply of hardware and software to the Royal Air Force Stock Control and Management Information System project; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThe Ministry of Defence is still planning to complete transfer to the new computer system in December, 1974, using ICL computers and associated equipment. The approach hitherto involved producing a new and complex software package to control the realtime computer system and data transmission network with its 600 on-line terminals. This software was being undertaken by Dataskil Limited.
412WHowever, on further review with the help of consultants, the Ministry of Defence and the Central Computer Agency foresaw worth-while operational advantages for the RAF through modifying instead the Monitor software package now successfully in use for the London Airport Cargo EDP System (LACES). The National Data Processing Service of the Post Office operate LACES and it has been asked to implement the modified Monitor system for Hendon in association with ICL.
The change is not expected to increase total expenditure on the project.