§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service whether she will give a detailed list of the various computers in the various Government and public offices; 292W what these cost on installation and on daily or annual upkeep; to what extent savings in costs and manpower were envisaged when purchasing; to what extent these savings have in fact been effected; and whether she will make a statement.
§ Mr. HayhoeI can answer only for central Government Departments, which use more than 650 large and medium-sized computers for administrative and scientific purposes. Details of these are published annually with the May edition of "Management Services in Government", a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library. In addition, some 500 microcomputers are used in Government offices. In 1980–81, the Government spent £23 million on the maintenance of computers and £51 million on the purchase of new computer systems and related equipment. Detailed information on the purchase and maintenance costs of each system could be provided only at disproportionate cost and, in any event, is commercially confidential. Potential savings in costs and manpower are important factors in considering whether the expenditure on each purchase is justified. Many such savings have been achieved and, as indicated by the examples in paragraph 32 of the recent White Paper, Cmnd 8293, the use of computers continues to play a vital part in the Government's efforts to improve the efficiency of the Civil Service.