HC Deb 13 February 2004 vol 418 cc194-5W
Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the new information referral and tracking system protocols and technical developments will interrelate with the wider e-Government programme; and how they will be integrated to ensure that local authorities are not unduly burdened. [155074]

Margaret Hodge

Any new systems will conform to the e-GIF (e-Government Interoperability Framework) and we are working with the Office of e-Envoy to ensure that those requirements are met.

We are consulting other Government Departments on potential links with their e-Government developments and also liaising with ODPM colleagues in regard to the local e-Government programme. Our proposals in this area would only be commenced subject to a proper assessment of impact on local authorities and their capacity to deliver.

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much additional funds will be available to support the implementation of new information referral and tracking systems. [155075]

Margaret Hodge

Funding for the implementation of our proposals on information sharing systems will depend on the outcome of the 2004 spending review.