PICT 'HEALTH CHECK'
16. In 2007 the review by Sir Kevin Tebbit of
the management and services of the House of Commons noted the
progress that had been made in improving IT services but expressed
concerns about the scale of PICT's ambition (PICT's mission is
to provide "a fully joined up information management strategy
for Parliament") and the costs of PICT's operations as a
whole. In view of this report, the Joint Business Systems Board
(JBSB), the management forum set up by the two Houses to oversee
PICT, commissioned an external review (known as the 'health check')
of the Houses' plans for IT development and PICT's capacity to
deliver.
17. The Committee held a special meeting to consider
the contents of the health check report and took note of the response
to the review prepared by the JBSB and adopted by the Management
Boards of the two Houses. The Reading Clerk, who chairs the JBSB,
and the Director of PICT appeared before the Committee to present
the documents and answer questions. The actions taken by way of
response will be reported to the Committee in due course.[6]
DEVELOPMENT OF THE WIRELESS NETWORK
ON THE PARLIAMENTARY ESTATE
18. Wireless services are available in the Royal
Gallery, Library Reading Rooms and the Chamber. The Committee
has asked PICT to pursue a feasibility study for further wireless
installations on the Parliamentary estate.
MEMBERS' COMPUTING ISSUES
19. The Committee regularly raises computing
issues with the Director of PICT. Recent examples include the
lack of compatibility between documents produced in Microsoft
2007 and the current system on the Parliamentary network, which
will be resolved in conjunction with Microsoft; and the need to
increase the size of Members' email boxes, which has been agreed.
6 The review can be found on the intranet at: http://intranet.parliament.uk/intranet/assets/PICT_review_july08.doc
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