Joined-up IT in Parliament

The Information Committee in the House of Commons has published a report recommending that MPs are provided with new IT hardware and software in an attempt to replace the current ad hoc system with a joined-up Parliament.

Among the conclusions recommended in the report are that:

· a central provision will allow the House of Commons to offer a higher standard of IT service to MPs;

· a central provision of IT hardware and software for Members, together with a maintenance and support service in Westminster and in the constituency is introduced at the earliest opportunity;

· hardware should be upgraded at least every three years;

· MPs should be able to continue to draw on an allowance to buy IT equipment of their choice, which would supplement that provided by the House;

· A cut in the Office Costs Allowance by an amount corresponding to the value of IT equipment provided centrally would 'render central provision unacceptable to Members';

· steps are taken to put in place a new regime for IT provision for Members before the next General Election;

· MPs should not be able to use this equipment for Party political purposes.

Precise costs were not given however an acceptable minimum figure of £7,500 capital cost per MP was cited. It was said that this would not be unduly generous compared to the devolved assemblies where the cost per Member is £9,165 (Wales); £5,258 (Northern Ireland) and £6,970 (Scotland).

It was estimated that the expenditure incurred every three years could be in the region of £5 million.

One contractor said: "This really rubs salt in the wound when these people are talking of needing around £10,000 worth of hardware and software to do their jobs, whereas IT contractors who need this equipment as a vital tool of their trade are restricted to having to pay for it – and every other business expense – out of five per cent of turnover."