Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Maclennan of Rogart (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Thursday, 8 April 2010.

Government Information Communication Technology Projects

Question: My Lords, with reference to the National Health Service, have the Government taken into consideration the recommendation of the Public Accounts Committee in its 20th report that, "The Department should seek to modify the procurement process under the Programme so that secondary care trusts and others can if they wish select from a wider range of patient administration systems and clinical systems", because it found that, "The use of only two major software suppliers may have the effect of inhibiting innovation, progress and competition"? In their report in January of this year, the Government paid some lip service to competition but have not by any practical means widened access to that important and expensive market.

Answer: The noble Lord makes some very good points. There has been rationalisation and modification since the earlier report of the Select Committee of which he spoke. There has been a great deal of robustness on ensuring that scrutiny, overview, accountability and transparency are to the fore. He will know that there are 14 strands in the new ICT strategy published in January, which now put real pressure on suppliers to up their game.

Secondary information