§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department(1) in relation to the planned computer network proposed by Electronic Data Systems, what kind of data he proposes to obtain from or transfer to the Department of Health and Social Security; what is the anticipated number of such transfers; and for what purpose those tranfers will take place;
(2) in relation to the planned computer network proposed by Electronic Data Systems, what kind of data he proposes to obtain from or transfer to the Inland Revenue; what is the anticipated number of such transfers; and for what purpose those transfers will take place;
(3) in relation to the planned computer network proposed by Electronic Data Systems, what kind of data he proposes to obtain from or transfer to the Customs and Excise; what is the anticipated number of such transfers; and for what purpose those transfers will take place.
§ Mr. Hurd[pursuant to his reply, 22 January 1987 at col. 666]: I regret that my earlier answer was incomplete. The full answer is as follows.
A Government data network is being considered as a means of minimising the data communications, development and running costs of Government Departments (initially up to four). Electronic Data Systems is one of several companies which responded to a request for information issued by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency on behalf of Her Majesty's Government. No proposals have yet been received, and a consortium which includes Electronic Data Systems is only one of a number of consortia invited to submit proposals. There are at present no plans to use such a network, if it were established, for exchange of information between the Home Office and either the Inland Revenue or the Department of Health and Social Security. There are no plans for exchange of information between the Home Office and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, other than the properly authorised transfer of data via existing networks which provide an inquiry-only service on the vehicle keepers index held on the police national computer unit. A formal decision has yet to be made as to whether the PNCU network would be transferred to the Government data network, if it were established.