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Dept for Education and Employment

Answer

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. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Project Description End date Estimated cost (£) Teaching and learning initiatives UK Online Centres Funding for ICT learning Ongoing 100 million centres in disadvantaged communities National Grid for Learning Further development of the NGfl Ongoing. All schools to be 1 billion over 3 years 2001-04 (Schools) programme to equip and connect connected to the internet by schools, colleges and other 2002 places of learning ICT in Further Education Capital The planned investment in ICT Ongoing 74 million Infrastructure (National Learning will help support colleges as Network) 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 ICT in Higher Education Provision to support learning Ongoing 300 million and effective management in HE institutions Connexions card project To deliver a multi-functional Autumn 2001 6.5 million 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 Worktrain To develop an internet portal Comprehensive service available 3.2 million to job vacancies, careers, in 2001 work-related learning and training opportunities 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 To define, build and deliver August 2002 38 million Information and Business System the information systems and Project processes necessary to support the Learning and Skills Council Computers Within Reach Scheme to give subsidised March 2001 (end of contract) 15 million recycled PCs to low income families and earners Wired up communities To connect homes in a number of February 2002 (end of contract) 10 million deprived communities to the internet and email and to test the impact which this might have to education and employability Grid Club The creation of a fun learning March 2004 (end of contract) 6 million 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 Learn Direct Telephone help line and website Ongoing 10 million run by the University for Industry providing information and advice to adults Virtual College of School A portal that provides the May 2003 (end of contract) 2 million Leadership 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 Other departmental systems European Social Fund Adapting systems to deliver ESF March 2001 1.2 million in accordance with revised payment methodology and business process Sure Start IT System Sure Start is a Mid 2001 1 million cross-departmental initiative aimed at improving local service available to families and young children in disadvantaged areas Overseas Labour Service To introduce a series of March 2002 650,000 enhancements including the introduction of emailed applications for work permits New Student Support System A project to allow students to Database and application form 550,000 access an initial application available in 2001 form for financial support electronically Special Education Needs Tribunals Re-write of the system to meet March 2001 500,000 System Re-write new tribunal regulations which will result in a fundamental change to the way that appeals are managed Voluntary Aided Schools Enhancement to the VASIS system September 2001 350,000 Information System (VASIS) Phase which will provide the 2 capability to receive and approve grant claims electronically and provide on-line access to schools and LEAs GTC Database (Releases 3-5) Further releases which will March 2001 300,000 provide for the collection of key data on teachers and fee collection Standards Fund System Development of the existing March 2001 250,000 system to enable LEAs to make electronic claims against the Standards Fund Publications Database (Phase 2) Enhancements, which will September 2001 150,000 improve our ability to monitor progress against targets Neighbourhood Support Fund System required to monitor and February 2001 150,000 Database evaluates the performance of the NSF projects and Managing Agents in delivering the Programme DfEE Correspondence Handling The development and -- 2.5 million System 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 DfEE Infrastructure upgrades Replacement of PCs, fileservers March 2001 4 million and software _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 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.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

151502; 363 c652-5W

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Software Costs ICT Government departments Department for Education and Employment

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk