§ Mr. ChisholmTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what organisations during the last 10 years have undertaken information technology functions which are similar to those undertaken by the information management group in England; and what is the total expenditure of those organisations over this period. [37376]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonNo one organisation in Scotland has mirrored the range of activities carried out by the information management group of the Department of Health. In Scotland, information technology issues have, since 1988, been managed successively by the directorate of health service information systems, health systems division, within the Common Services Agency and currently by the computing and IT strategy division of the Scottish Office Department of Health, management executive.
Expenditure figures are available from 1991–92. The table lists the expenditure directly managed by these organisations and shows a steady reduction in the retention of centrally managed funds for information technology projects, and an increase in the release of funds to health boards to make their own decisions about funding priorities in the light of the needs of patients.
- 1991–92: £13.1 million
- 1992–93: £11.8 million
- 1993–94: £9.1 million
- 1994–95: £7.7 million
- 1995–96: £6.0 million
- 1996–97: £4.3 million