HC Deb 07 June 1988 vol 134 cc529-30W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will describe the changes brought to the design of the Government data network as a result of his discussions with the Data Protection Registrar.

Mr. Brooke

The Data Protection Registrar has been kept informed from the outset of the proposals for

Married couples liable to income tax 1988–89
Number of couples Average income
Total income (lower limit) all where wife has no income with wife's income1 where wife has no income where both spouses have income
husband wife1
£'000 '000s '000s '000s £ £ £
4 110 100 10 4,500 4,600 50
5 310 130 180 5,600 4,500 1,100
6 440 190 250 6,500 5,300 1,300
7 470 200 270 7,500 5,900 1,600
8 630 270 360 8,500 6,500 2,000
9 590 230 360 9,500 7,400 2,100
10 1,440 520 920 11,000 8,500 2,500
12 1,950 570 1,380 13,400 10,400 3,100
15 2,420 480 1,940 17,300 12,700 4,600
20 2,000 340 1,660 23,500 17,400 6,400
30 530 80 450 34,400 26,000 8,000
40 150 30 120 44,500 34,600 9,600
50 80 20 60 54,800 43,500 10,700
60 40 10 30 64,700 51,100 13,500

maintaining security on the Government data network, including arrangements for controlling access. He has expressed no reservations about the proposals.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now quantify the cost savings that will arise over the next 10 years as a result of the Government data network.

Mr. Brooke

In assessing the value for money of the Government data network, its costs were compared with the viable alternatives—using comparable public services, or implementing separate networks similar to GDN.

The savings from using the GDN service are estimated at around 45 per cent. and 30 per cent. respectively. Actual savings will depend on the use made of the service.