Scottish Government
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Public sector ICT review
Proposals which could save up to £1 billion over the next five years in public sector information and communication technology (ICT) have been published.
A review of public sector ICT infrastructure carried out by John McClelland recommends an overarching national ICT strategy to address national needs and that each part of the public sector, such as universities or councils, should move to shared procurement and use of ICT.
The Scottish Government will now consider the findings.
The review finds that public sector in Scotland invested at least £1.4 billion on ICT in 2009, 60 per cent of it external spending with industry, and there are 6,200 people involved in ICT across the public sector.
Finance Secretary John Swinney said:
"This is a welcome review from John McClelland who has a strong track record of breaking new ground in public service delivery. During our last administration we implemented the approach to procurement recommended by John McClelland. I asked Mr McClelland to consider the next stage of the challenge in this area and I welcome what he has set out.
"The review states that it should be standard to request all public services online and ICT technologies should support more integration across different sectors. That is a vision which the whole of the public sector should aspire to.
"Along with the Public Procurement Reform Board I will consider in detail the review's findings, but it is clear there must be more effective engagement with the ICT industry and a much clearer focus on breaking down organisational barriers to deliver better public services that focus on users while getting the best value for money."
Mr McClelland also conducted a review of public procurement in Scotland in 2006. He said:
"Given my involvement in the global ICT Industry over many years, I was pleased to be asked by John Swinney to conduct this review of its use in the public sector in Scotland. I hope that the findings from my report and implementation of its recommendations will help not only to deliver financial savings but also encourage the use of this technology to improve the quality of and access to public services."
