§ Mr. Hendersonasked the Prime Minister what are the responsibilities of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Lord Privy Seal and the Secretary of State for Industry for information technology in the Government service.
§ The Prime MinisterThe responsibility for identifying, implementing and managing the application of information technology in Government Departments rests with the Ministers in charge of those Departments.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for approving supply for those Departments—including information technology equipment, services and related administrative expenditures—and for the technical advice and procurement support given to Departments by the central computer and telecommunications agency of the Treasury.
The Lord Privy Seal is responsible for general policies on Civil Service management, efficiency and personnel work—one aspect of which will be the impact of information technology—and for the training support given to Departments by the management and personnel office. The Secretary of State for Industry has no direct responsibility for information technology in Government. He seeks to promote the use of information technology in the private and public sectors wherever it can improve performance and be of real help.