§ Q10. Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Minister with responsibility for setting up common data banks and computerised information services for the research organisations and libraries of the House of Commons, House of Lords, all Government Departments and public bodies.
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§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Civil Service Department has responsibility for the work of the Department's management services division and of the central computer agency in helping to provide up-to-date information services within the Government. It would not be center to extend that responsibility to cover the facilities which Parliament or other public bodies might require but, as I have said in a letter to my hon. Friend, the Government would be prepared to offer technical advice. We should also be prepared to consider, subject to any necessary safeguards for privacy and confidentiality, proposals for shared access to information.