HC Deb 29 July 1997 vol 299 cc253-4W
Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is her estimate of total departmental expenditure on computer-related current and capital work for(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98, (d) 1998–99 and (e) 1999–00; and if she will make a statement. [11391]

Mr. Keith Bradley

The bulk of the Department of Social Security's information technology-related expenditure is accounted for by the Information Technology Services Agency which exists to provide IT services both to DSS and to certain other Government Departments. ITSA's total actual and estimated expenditure on the provision of such IT services is set out in the table.

£ million
1995–96 1996–97 1997–98
Current expenditure 354.126 359.251 356.463
Capital expenditure 81.370 24.100 23.384

Of this expenditure, the Department recovers the following sums mainly in respect of services provided to other Government Departments.

  • 1995–96: £94.573 million
  • 1996–97: £50.532 million
  • 1997–98 (estimated): £35.192 million

Additional departmental IT expenditure, not accounted for by ITSA, is as follows:

£ million
1995–96 1996–97 1997–98
Current expenditure 8.655 6.846 7.751
Capital expenditure 18.529 19.612 18.084

Detailed spending plans for 1998–99 and 1999–00 have not yet been finalised.