Chi Onwurah – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what audit he has made of (a) ICL mainframes, (b) IBM mainframes and (c) other legacy ICT systems in Government departments and the availability of skills needed to maintain them; and when each relevant maintenance contract falls due.

Mr Francis Maude

Government Digital Service (GDS) has worked to identify legacy IT equipment, which includes a small number of important legacy IBM and ICL mainframes. To ensure these are effectively managed Government is creating a Crown Hosting Service, which is due to go live next year.

In many cases departments are locked into contracts signed over 10 years ago, by the previous administration, which means they are dependent on suppliers to manage these systems.

GDS is supporting departments to bring in new skilled officials to address a long-standing lack of digital skills.

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