§ Mr. WarrenTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the composition of the senior information technology strategy committee in his departments; and how many times in the past year its meetings have been attended by Ministers.
§ Mr. Brooke[holding answer 20 July 1988]: The information requested is as follows:
HM Treasury
The information technology strategy committee (ITSC) is the senior IT committee in the Department, covering IT 716W strategy for central Treasury, CCTA and the Chessington Computer Centre. It is chaired by the principal establishment and finance officer. The members include the directors of the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) and the Chessington Computer Centre (CCC) and other representatives at grade 3 and grade 5 levels. Ministers have not attended meetings of ITSC.
Inland Revenue
The senior IT strategy committee in the Inland Revenue is the Board of Inland Revenue, chaired by the permanent secretary with membership at grade 2 level. It had several meetings in the last year dealing with IT issues, and meets from time to time with main suppliers. It is supported by a steering group, chaired at grade 2 level, dealing with the different areas of IT within the Department.
Regular progress reports on major projects are made to Ministers.
Customs and Excise
The information technology strategy committee in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise is composed of:
The Deputy Chairman of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise (Chairman) —Grade 2 Director Customs —Grade 3 Director Personnel —Grade 3 Director Outfield —Grade 3 Director VAT —Grade 3 Director Organisation—Grade 3 Accountant and Comptroller General —Grade 5 Assistant Secretary CCTA —Grade 5 Ministers have not attended any meeting of this committee in the past year.
National Savings
The senior IT committee in National Savings comprises:
- Director (Chairman)
- Deputy Director
- Finance Officer
- Establishment Officer
- Product Division Controllers (3) and Deputy Controllers (3)
- Head of Advertising and Press Department
- Head of Management Services Department
- Head of Technology Services Department
- CCTA(CTI) Group Head
- Secretary.
No meetings in the past year have been attended by a Minister.
Her Majesty's Stationery Office
The HMSO information technology committee consists of:
- 2 × Grade 4
- 6 × Grade 5
- 2 × Grade 6
- 1 × Grade 7
This committee has met four times in the past year. No Minister has attended.
Paymaster General's Office
The IT Steering Committee in the Paymaster General's Office is composed of all senior management posts at grade 7 and above, in total 10, plus a departmental representative from CCTA, and is chaired by the Assistant Paymaster General (grade 5). No Ministers have attended meetings in the past year.
717WCentral Office of Information
The composition of the COI information technology steering committee is as follows:
- Deputy Director General of COI (Grade 4) Chairman
- Principal Establishments and Finance Officer (Grade 5) Deputy Chairman
- Three × Representatives of Operational Groups (Grade 6)
- Head of Management and Information Technology Branch (Grade 7)
- CCTA Liaison Officer (Grade 7)
Meetings of this committee have never been attended by Ministers.
Royal Mint
Information technology strategy within the Royal Mint is approved and reviewed by the Royal Mint executive board which comprises:
- Deputy Master (Chief Executive)
- Production and Human Resources Director
- Finance Director (responsibilities include Information Technology)
- Sales Director
- Marketing Director
Information Technology strategy is dealt with in the Royal Mint's corporate plan which was reviewed with the Paymaster General at a meeting held on 21 April 1988.
Registry of Friendly Societies
The composition of the Registry of Friendly Societies information technology strategy committee is as follows:
Chairman
- Deputy Chairman of the Building Societies Commission
Members
- Deputy Registrar, Registry of Friendly Societies
- Commissioner, Building Societies Commission
- Two assistant Commissioners, Building Societies Commission
- Principal Establishment and Finance Officer
- Supervisor Building Societies Commission
- Supervisor Central Office, Registry of Friendly Societies
- Information Technology Project Officer
The committee has met nine times in the past year and no Minister has attended.
Government Actuary's Department
The Government Actuary's Department IT strategy committee consists of the Government Actuary and principal computer officer, supported by a steering committee, including the establishment and finance officers and users' representatives. Ministers have never attended its meetings.
National Investment and Loans Office
The IT strategy committee of the National Investment and Loans Office consists of the director, computer manager and user branch managers as appropriate.
No meetings of the committee have been attended by Ministers in the past year.