Commons Committee to look at outsourcing

An influential Commons Select Committee will be examining the development of the IT industry in the UK and the impact of recent trends, including relocating parts of large industries to India and other countries.

The Trade and Industry Select Committee is chaired by Martin O'Neill MP who has indicated that he wants the Committee to take a wide-ranging look at the impact of the IT industry from the 1990s on local economy and employment but the Committee has confirmed to UKTECH that the outsourcing of call centres and IT functions will feature.

The Committee has yet to meet to consider the scope and the terms of reference and it is expected that it will be announced in the middle of September. After the Committee will call for written submissions from interested parties who usually have six weeks to respond.

The Committee then assesses the submissions and can call for oral evidence, possibly in November with likely publication in the New Year.

Select Committees comprise MPs from all parties. They tend to mirror departmental responsibilities and have a remit to examine any aspect of the department they shadow.

Although their reports are not binding, they carry significant weight. After publication the relevant Department, in this case DTI, has two months to respond to the findings and explain why if it isn't prepared to meet the recommendations.

UKTECH will keep members of its network informed of developments and will arrange a facility whereby freelancers can submit evidence to the Committee.