§ Mr. AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement of progress on the introduction of information technologies to facilitate internal communications in his Department and the provision of information to the public concerning those areas for which he is responsible; and if he has any further plans to apply the newest technologies in these fields.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerMy Department makes use of information technology (IT) in a number of ways to improve internal communications. For example a video-conferencing system links our Cardiff and London offices, and data and documents are transferred by facsimile, remotely located word processors and electronic mail systems. Advanced desk top publishing techniques are used in the production of many departmental publications which are available to the public. These uses of IT have been developed in accordance with my Department's IT strategy which sets out how IT may best be used to support the business aims and priorities of the Department. We will continue to make the fullest possible use of emergent technologies.