HC Deb 04 December 1996 vol 286 cc650-1W
Ms Church

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 11 November,Official Report, column 24, what were the proposed annual savings for the three information technology projects in the bands above and including £1 million to £2 million, undertaken since 1992; and what have been the realised annual savings. [6695]

Mrs. Angela Knight

[holding answer 28 November [1996]Two of the projects relate to the Treasury's OASIS office system, and the third to the pensions administration system.

The roll-out of the OASIS office system was completed in July, and replaced an earlier system that was coming to the end of its useful life. The replacement system was designed to improve efficiency and effectiveness by providing all Treasury staff with access to modern office automation facilities. Significant savings are expected as the system beds down and is exploited.

The new principal civil service pension scheme administration system which is being developed will be implemented by user departments over the next two years and will reduce administration costs. How much each user department will save will vary and depend on circumstances prevailing at the time. The new software will make market testing of the pensions administration function particularly effective. Software enhancement and maintenance costs will also be reduced. The project is now the responsibility of the Office of Public Service.

Ms Church

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 11 November,Official Report, column 24, what are the proposed annual savings for the seven information technology projects planned for 1997–98. [6694]

Mrs. Knight

[holding answer 28 November 1996]The proposed projects fall broadly into two categories: those to support new requirements, and those to upgrade and maintain existing systems. In the case of new requirements, the aim is to support them in the most cost-effective way. It is very difficult to attribute quantified savings to upgrading and maintaining existing systems. This is because it is essential to upgrade systems on a regular basis in order to continue to receive support from suppliers, and also because the improvements form part of on-going work to make better use of existing IT systems.

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