§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Minister for the Civil Service what percentage of civil servants, at under secretary rank and above, have received full training in computers.
§ Mr. ChannonThis information is not available centrally. In the years from 1974 until the present time 146 civil servants at under-secretary rank and above attended computer courses arranged by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency, the Civil Service College, the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Industry. This number represents approximately 19 per cent. of all those in post at these levels and is expected to rise to about 30 per cent. of them by the end of the year. In addition, however, senior officers in Departments will undoubtedly have attended courses on their own initiative or at the invitation of computer manufacturers without the Civil Service Department being involved.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Minister for the Civil Service if he is satisfied that civil servants, at under secretary rank and above, are sufficiently aware of the uses of computers, and are sufficiently knowledgeable about them; and if he will take steps to make them better informed of the uses of computers.
§ Mr. ChannonI am satisfied that computers now form such an important element in the day-to-day administration of Government Departments that civil servants, at under-secretary rank and538W above, are well aware of the need for an understanding of their uses. To this end the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency commissions courses for senior civil servants aimed at providing them with a fundamental understanding of what computer systems are, how they operate, and what are the responsibilities of senior management in the planning, direction and economic development of computer projects. These courses are sufficient to meet the present demand and the response to them is increasing and encouraging. Additional courses will be arranged to satisfy any further increase in demand beyond that already anticipated.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Minister for the Civil Service what training courses are run for civil servants, at under secretary rank and above, in computers; how many such civil servants took such courses in 1979; how this compares with the numbers for each of the preceeding five years; and how many are expected to undertake such courses this year.
§ Mr. ChannonThe Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency has commissioned courses from computer manufacturers aimed at providing an appreciation of the uses of computers, and what should be the responsibilities of senior management in project development. Similar courses are mounted by the Ministry of Defence. In addition, seminars on more specialised aspects of computing—for example, on microcomputers—are mounted by the Civil Service College and the Department of Industry.
87 civil servants at under-secretary rank and above took such courses in 1979. Figures for earlier years are:
1978 20 1977 5 1976 9 1975 7 1974 5 In addition, 13 have so far attended such courses in 1980 and it is expected that attendance for the full year will be at least as large as that for 1979. Other senior civil servants will have attended similar courses on their own initiative or on the invitation of computer manufacturers without involving the Civil Service Department.