§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Government Departments, agencies or other bodies not currently using the Government data network he assesses as possible participators in the network.
§ Mr. RyderThe Government data network is available to all central Government Departments and agencies and, subject to approval of the GDN management board, their use of the network is actively encouraged.
§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy on inviting tenders to the expansion of the network from companies not currently contributing to the Government data network.
§ Mr. RyderThe Government data network is provided under contract by Racal Data Networks Ltd. as a service and it is the responsibility of the contractor to tailor the network to meet user demands. The contract requires open systems connection to international standards to ensure that users have the widest possible choice of suppliers for systems which use GDN for connections. Those standards also give the contractor the widest choice of equipment and every inducement to use the most cost-effective technology as it becomes available. It is the intention that development of the network to carry value added data services will assure a competitive network in those services.