§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has for each constabulary of the capital cost of the mainframe equipment used by that constabulary and the recurrent costs of maintaining that computer.
§ Mr. John MacKayI understand that, of the eight Scottish police forces, only Lothian and Borders police have their own mainframe computer (this term being taken as excluding mini and microcomputers). Capital expenditure, including enhancements since the computer was first installed, has amounted to £1.3 million and maintenance costs are of the order of £134,000 per annum.
Some other forces have access, in varying degree, to local authority mainframe equipment, for which appropriate charges are made.