Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Minister for the Civil Service how many computer banks are run by the Government; what they are; and how many computers are in operation in the public sector.
§ Mr. ChannonI assume that by "computer banks" the hon. Member is referring to a store of information on which a computer operates.
Information on 566 computers, and thus on the data banks to which each is linked, installed in Government Departments, including an indication of the main use made of each system, is contained in the May 1979 edition of "Management Services in Government". This is available in the Library. It is planned to bring this information up to date in the August 1980 edition.
Information on computers in the public sector generally is not kept centrally and could not be assembled without disproportionate cost.