Government Secure Intranet

HL Deb 30 July 1997 vol 582 cc63-4WA

The Earl of Northesk

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they intend to maintain ministerial accountability and effective co-ordinated relations with the Civil Service if the plan to introduce a security-coded Intranet capability is implemented to permit Ministers to communicate directly with each other without going through the formal procedures of meetings and memoranda; and

How the principle of open government can be reconciled with their plan to introduce a security-coded Intranet capability to permit Ministers to communicate directly with each other.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The Government Secure Intranet is designed to make communications within government faster and more efficient. The Government do not believe it will adversely affect either openness and accountability or the role of the Civil Service in the effective conduct of business.