§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)In our last information and communications technology (ICT) strategy published in 2000 we set ourselves the goal of transforming the FCO from a headquarters with outstations to a single global online organisation. We have come a long way towards achieving that goal. The FCO telecommunications network (FTN) together with our desktop system (Firecrest) provides a dedicated global network that connects our UK offices with over 200 overseas posts and to the rest of Whitehall. On it we send over 1 million e-mails and download gigabytes of data every day, and run a number of applications including Genie (for issuing passports).
Following publication of the FCO strategy in December last year, we have reviewed what we need from our ICT to enable the more flexible FCO envisaged in that strategy. E-diplomacy explains how we will introduce greater flexibility to our ICT infrastructure and enable more flexible use of information. This includes more use of mobile and remote-working technology and new applications to make information more accessible, while keeping it secure. We will continue to improve our project management skills and develop closer working partnerships with the private sector to ensure that we provide the most cost-effective service to FCO users. We will also work with other government departments to achieve efficiency savings wherever possible.
The plans we have set out in e-diplomacy are challenging but achievable. We believe that they are crucial to the overall effectiveness of the FCO.
Copies of e-diplomacy have been placed in the Library of the House. It is also available on the FCO's web-site www.fco.gov.uk.