§ Mr. John CarlisleTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have for the future of the Treasury's Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency.
§ Mr. RyderFollowing a review last year of CCTA's role, activities and organisation, the Government have decided that there continues to be a need, centrally within the Government, to provide and co-ordinate IT services and advice for Departments, both individually and collectively, and to help formulate Government policies on IT. CCTA will continue to discharge these functions as part of the Treasury.
CCTA will be looking to make more use of the private sector in the development and maintenance of its own services and will focus its efforts on activities which the private sector cannot or is unwilling to undertake or where CCTA can add significantly greater value for money. CCTA will also increase its monitoring of the effectiveness and quality of products and services provided by the private sector to the Government.
The latest decisions call in addition for a package of management reforms at CCTA encompassing:
- (i) improved services to customers,
- (ii) new management accounting systems, output and performance indicators,
- (iii) more systematic charging for direct services to Departments, and
- (iv) improved corporate and strategic planning.
A new advisory board will be established under Treasury chairmanship to advise the Treasury's senior management on the scale and broad composition of CCTA's forward work programme.
Copies of the management summary of the review and of the detailed decisions on it are being placed in the Library.