§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what consideration has been given to allowing access via the parliamentary data and video network to Government computer data bases which are accessible by the public; and if he will list those data bases which have been considered.
§ Mr. WallerThe Central Office of Information press data base is the only Government computer data base accessible by the public which is at present available as part of the parliamentary data and video network pilot experiment. It contains the text of press notices issued by some Government Departments, and is available via the POLIS service.
The Library of the House already subscribes to various data bases and is considering the possibility of providing the United Kingdom official publications, census and other data bases, available on CD-ROM, over the network. The Information Committe hopes to publish its report on the parliamentary data and video network early in 1994. Any decisions involving increased funding for the PDVN will need to await that report and its consideration by the House.