House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 28 Feb 2001 (pt 3)

Departmental IT Projects

Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the IT projects his Department plans to undertake in the next year; and if he will state in each case the (a) expected date of commencement and completion and (b) cost. [151476]

Mr. Wills [holding answer 26 February 2001]: The major information technology projects to be started in the next year are listed in the table.

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£

Project Description Start date Completion date Estimated project cost

Correspondence handling Enhancements to the system introduced in April 2000 for moving and tracking correspondence electronically April 2001 October 2001 350,000

Infrastructure upgrades Replacement of PCs and servers April 2001 March 2002 3,000,000

Project	Description	Start date	Completion date	Estimated project cost
Correspondence handling	Enhancements to the system introduced in April 2000 for moving and tracking correspondence electronically	April 2001	October 2001	350,000
Infrastructure upgrades	Replacement of PCs and servers	April 2001	March 2002	3,000,000

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Following on from the achievements the Employment Service (ES) has made in the last 12 months the ES is committed to improving its main advisory tool, the Labour Market System, which should see major improvements by December 2001 at a cost of £9.2 million.

The Modernising ES programme is already delivering new and exciting ways in helping customers come closer to the labour market, e.g. Jobpoints and Internet Jobbank, and the next steps are for the ES to engage with DSS colleagues on how best to take forward the IT

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requirements of the new agency. This will occur over the coming months.

Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the IT projects currently undertaken in his Department; and if he will state the (a) expected completion date and (b) cost of each project. [151502]

Mr. Wills [holding answer 26 February 2001]: The major information technology-enabled projects currently being undertaken by the Department are listed in the following table.

28 Feb 2001 : Column: 651W

Project Description End date Estimated cost (£)

Teaching and learning initiatives

UK Online Centres Funding for ICT learning centres in disadvantaged communities Ongoing 100 million

National Grid for Learning (Schools) Further development of the NGfl programme to equip and connect schools, colleges and other places of learning Ongoing. All schools to be connected to the internet by 2002 1 billion over 3 years 2001-04

ICT in Further Education Capital Infrastructure (National Learning Network) The planned investment in ICT will help support colleges as the demand for ICT skills; electronic delivery of learning and access to knowledge and information continues to grow. Colleges will need to take advantage of best practice in the use of ICT, and they will need to exploit ICT to deliver new ways of learning through flexible, attractive and convenient mechanisms Ongoing 74 million

ICT in Higher Education Provision to support learning and effective management in HE institutions Ongoing 300 million

Connexions card project To deliver a multi-functional smart card to young people in further learning, which carries discounts and rewards to encourage their participation and attainment. The project includes an underpinning database driven careers and course website Autumn 2001 6.5 million

Worktrain To develop an internet portal to job vacancies, careers, work-related learning and training opportunities Comprehensive service available in 2001 3.2 million

Individual Learning Accounts This includes: May 2005 (end of contract) 50 million

The implementation of policy for individual learning accounts;

The creation of a national framework for the administration of individual learning accounts;

The marketing and other promotional activity to support and increase take up;

Continued development of ILA policy within the framework of funding for adult learners and wider policy developments

The development of a partnership between DfEE and Capita;

Ensuring consistency between the arrangements in England and the devolved administrations

Learning and Skills Council Information and Business System Project To define, build and deliver the information systems and processes necessary to support the Learning and Skills Council August 2002 38 million

Computers Within Reach Scheme to give subsidised recycled PCs to low income families and earners March 2001 (end of contract) 15 million

Wired up communities To connect homes in a number of deprived communities to the internet and email and to test the impact which this might have to education and employability February 2002 (end of contract) 10 million

Grid Club The creation of a fun learning site for children aged 7 to 11. It will help them learn through communicating and participating in joint activities and through improving their IT skills March 2004 (end of contract) 6 million

Learn Direct Telephone help line and website run by the University for Industry providing information and advice to adults Ongoing 10 million

Virtual College of School Leadership A portal that provides the virtual arm of the National College for School Leadership. The NCSL has been launched to provide leadership and development to the School leadership group. It will deliver both face-to-face programmes, including the existing headship training programmes, as well as online developmental and networking opportunities May 2003 (end of contract) 2 million

Other departmental systems

European Social Fund Adapting systems to deliver ESF in accordance with revised payment methodology and business process March 2001 1.2 million

Sure Start IT System Sure Start is a cross-departmental initiative aimed at improving local service available to families and young children in disadvantaged areas Mid 2001 1 million

Overseas Labour Service To introduce a series of enhancements including the introduction of emailed applications for work permits March 2002 650,000

New Student Support System A project to allow students to access an initial application form for financial support electronically Database and application form available in 2001 550,000

Special Education Needs Tribunals System Re-write Re-write of the system to meet new tribunal regulations which will result in a fundamental change to the way that appeals are managed March 2001 500,000

Voluntary Aided Schools Information System (VASIS) Phase 2 Enhancement to the VASIS system which will provide the capability to receive and approve grant claims electronically and provide on-line access to schools and LEAs September 2001 350,000

GTC Database (Releases 3-5) Further releases which will provide for the collection of key data on teachers and fee collection March 2001 300,000

Standards Fund System Development of the existing system to enable LEAs to make electronic claims against the Standards Fund March 2001 250,000

Publications Database (Phase 2) Enhancements, which will improve our ability to monitor progress against targets September 2001 150,000

Neighbourhood Support Fund Database System required to monitor and evaluate the performance of the NSF projects and Managing Agents in delivering the Programme February 2001 150,000

DfEE Correspondence Handling System The development and implementation of a computerised system for managing the Department's wide ranging correspondence in order to improve on its performance targets as per the Whitehall Standards -- 2.5 million

DfEE Infrastructure upgrades Replacement of PCs, fileservers and software March 2001 4 million

Project	Description	End date	Estimated cost (£)
	Teaching and learning initiatives
UK Online Centres	Funding for ICT learning centres in disadvantaged communities	Ongoing	100 million

National Grid for Learning (Schools)	Further development of the NGfl programme to equip and connect schools, colleges and other places of learning	Ongoing. All schools to be connected to the internet by 2002	1 billion over 3 years 2001-04

ICT in Further Education Capital Infrastructure (National Learning Network)	The planned investment in ICT will help support colleges as the demand for ICT skills; electronic delivery of learning and access to knowledge and information continues to grow. Colleges will need to take advantage of best practice in the use of ICT, and they will need to exploit ICT to deliver new ways of learning through flexible, attractive and convenient mechanisms	Ongoing	74 million

ICT in Higher Education	Provision to support learning and effective management in HE institutions	Ongoing	300 million
Connexions card project	To deliver a multi-functional smart card to young people in further learning, which carries discounts and rewards to encourage their participation and attainment. The project includes an underpinning database driven careers and course website	Autumn 2001	6.5 million

Worktrain	To develop an internet portal to job vacancies, careers, work-related learning and training opportunities	Comprehensive service available in 2001	3.2 million

Individual Learning Accounts	This includes:	May 2005 (end of contract)	50 million
	The implementation of policy for individual learning accounts;
	The creation of a national framework for the administration of individual learning accounts;
	The marketing and other promotional activity to support and increase take up;
	Continued development of ILA policy within the framework of funding for adult learners and wider policy developments
	The development of a partnership between DfEE and Capita;
	Ensuring consistency between the arrangements in England and the devolved administrations

Learning and Skills Council Information and Business System Project	To define, build and deliver the information systems and processes necessary to support the Learning and Skills Council	August 2002	38 million

Computers Within Reach	Scheme to give subsidised recycled PCs to low income families and earners	March 2001 (end of contract)	15 million

Wired up communities	To connect homes in a number of deprived communities to the internet and email and to test the impact which this might have to education and employability	February 2002 (end of contract)	10 million

Grid Club	The creation of a fun learning site for children aged 7 to 11. It will help them learn through communicating and participating in joint activities and through improving their IT skills	March 2004 (end of contract)	6 million

Learn Direct	Telephone help line and website run by the University for Industry providing information and advice to adults	Ongoing	10 million

Virtual College of School Leadership	A portal that provides the virtual arm of the National College for School Leadership. The NCSL has been launched to provide leadership and development to the School leadership group. It will deliver both face-to-face programmes, including the existing headship training programmes, as well as online developmental and networking opportunities	May 2003 (end of contract)	2 million

	Other departmental systems
European Social Fund	Adapting systems to deliver ESF in accordance with revised payment methodology and business process	March 2001	1.2 million

Sure Start IT System	Sure Start is a cross-departmental initiative aimed at improving local service available to families and young children in disadvantaged areas	Mid 2001	1 million

Overseas Labour Service	To introduce a series of enhancements including the introduction of emailed applications for work permits	March 2002	650,000

New Student Support System	A project to allow students to access an initial application form for financial support electronically	Database and application form available in 2001	550,000
Special Education Needs Tribunals System Re-write	Re-write of the system to meet new tribunal regulations which will result in a fundamental change to the way that appeals are managed	March 2001	500,000

Voluntary Aided Schools Information System (VASIS) Phase 2	Enhancement to the VASIS system which will provide the capability to receive and approve grant claims electronically and provide on-line access to schools and LEAs	September 2001	350,000

GTC Database (Releases 3-5)	Further releases which will provide for the collection of key data on teachers and fee collection	March 2001	300,000

Standards Fund System	Development of the existing system to enable LEAs to make electronic claims against the Standards Fund	March 2001	250,000

Publications Database (Phase 2)	Enhancements, which will improve our ability to monitor progress against targets	September 2001	150,000

Neighbourhood Support Fund Database	System required to monitor and evaluate the performance of the NSF projects and Managing Agents in delivering the Programme	February 2001	150,000

DfEE Correspondence Handling System	The development and implementation of a computerised system for managing the Department's wide ranging correspondence in order to improve on its performance targets as per the Whitehall Standards	--	2.5 million

DfEE Infrastructure upgrades	Replacement of PCs, fileservers and software	March 2001	4 million

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Employment Services

The Employment Service's modernisation programme has made remarkable achievements in less than 12 months. The ES now has a modern IT infrastructure in its 1,000 Jobcentres. A national jobs database has been created with around 400,000 vacancies. That database is available to anyone with internet access through the Employment Service website.

Job points have been installed in 12 Jobcentres. Job points are state-of-the-art touch-screen kiosks through which Jobcentre customers can search the national database. Early indications from these pilots are that job points are popular and successful and it is intended that they will be rolled out nationally to all Jobcentres from March this year.

The Employment Service is also establishing a network of 11 customer services centres to take vacancies from employers through a single telephone number, by fax or by e-mail. They will provide employers with 24-hour electronic access to Jobcentre recruitment services. This new service is expected to come on line in the next few months.

The Employment Service is also managing the transfer of Work Based Learning for Adults in April 2001 from the TECs and this will result in the implementation of a new contracting and funding system in April 2001 which will encourage closer working with ES's programme providers.

These achievements have been part of a fully integrated programme of change valued at some £816 million, which has already seen a vast improvement in the way ES conducts its business.

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