Spare Computer Capacity

HC Deb 09 February 1996 vol 271 c383W

Mr. Miller

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all cases where spare computer capacity has been sold to other Departments since 1987, giving the Department and value of each contract. [14083]

Mr. Arbuthnot

Generally, spare capacity is not something that the Department builds in when designing its computer systems. On occasions, computer facilities may be made available to other Departments which have requested assistance and this would normally be on a repayment basis. However, no central record is held of the degree to which its computer systems might contain spare capacity or the extent to which it has been made available for use by other Departments. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.