• Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
  • Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!

Tories to cut IT to keep National Insurance down

Collapse
X
  •  
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Tories to cut IT to keep National Insurance down

    The shadow chancellor today announced cuts in large IT programmes would form part of a £6bn public spending squeeze under a Tory government, that would be used to cancel most of a rise in national insurance planned for next year by Labour.

    Under the plan to slash "without reducing the quality of front line services", George Osborne announced:

    * New IT projects would be shelved
    * Ongoing project would be cancelled if they were not delivering value
    * Supplier contracts would be renegotiated
    * Discretionary spending on IT services would be cut

    But he was unable to cite specific projects, as opposition parties are not allowed to inspect government contracts.

    Despite this, the Conservatives have already pledged to scrap ID Cards and the National Identity Register, as well as ContactPoint, the national database of children's details, which is up and running.

    They have also promised to review the forthcoming Interception Modernisation Programme, which the Home Office has estimated at £2bn over ten years. The security establishment would be very resistant to any cut to the project, however.

    Meanwhile cuts to the £12bn National Programme for IT, one of the world's largest public IT projects, would not return to the Treasury, as the Tories plan to ringfence the NHS budget.

    The government immediately critised the announcement as lacking substance.

    "George Osborne's savings are so flaky, he's admitted he doesn't even know which department is going to pay what," the Times reports a spokeswoman for Alistair Darling said.

    Osbornes's plan is based on recommendations from Sir Peter Gershon and Dr Martin Read. Gershon is a former head of the Office of Government Commerce, and Read the former chief executive of LogicaCMG.®

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/03/29/osborne_it/
    Cats are evil.

    #2
    They could come to my company, get the product and still achieve those cuts. The increased efficiency would mean they could make bigger savings year on year afterwards too.

    But they won't, 'cause TPTB don't really want any of it to work: can't score political points in the UK on a system that works and doesn't need tinkering with.

    Insanity: repeating the same actions, but expecting different results.
    threadeds website, and here's my blog.

    Comment


      #3
      hip hip hurray......

      oh er ...hang on
      I'm alright Jack

      Comment


        #4
        KUATB
        Older and ...well, just older!!

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by ratewhore View Post
          Need a moderator to merge the two threads - where's NAT when you need her?
          If you have to add a , it isn't funny. HTH. LOL.

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by swamp View Post
            The shadow chancellor today announced cuts in large IT programmes would form part of a £6bn public spending squeeze under a Tory government, that would be used to cancel most of a rise in national insurance planned for next year by Labour.

            Under the plan to slash "without reducing the quality of front line services", George Osborne announced:

            * New IT projects would be shelved
            * Ongoing project would be cancelled if they were not delivering value
            * Supplier contracts would be renegotiated
            * Discretionary spending on IT services would be cut

            But he was unable to cite specific projects, as opposition parties are not allowed to inspect government contracts.

            Despite this, the Conservatives have already pledged to scrap ID Cards and the National Identity Register, as well as ContactPoint, the national database of children's details, which is up and running.

            They have also promised to review the forthcoming Interception Modernisation Programme, which the Home Office has estimated at £2bn over ten years. The security establishment would be very resistant to any cut to the project, however.

            Meanwhile cuts to the £12bn National Programme for IT, one of the world's largest public IT projects, would not return to the Treasury, as the Tories plan to ringfence the NHS budget.

            The government immediately critised the announcement as lacking substance.

            "George Osborne's savings are so flaky, he's admitted he doesn't even know which department is going to pay what," the Times reports a spokeswoman for Alistair Darling said.

            Osbornes's plan is based on recommendations from Sir Peter Gershon and Dr Martin Read. Gershon is a former head of the Office of Government Commerce, and Read the former chief executive of LogicaCMG.®

            http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/03/29/osborne_it/
            National saviours, arent they? Not!
            I couldn't give two fornicators! Yes, really!

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by The Wikir Man View Post
              Need a moderator to merge the two threads - where's NAT when you need her?
              Too busy handing out infringements, or whatever they're calling a stern telling off these days...
              Older and ...well, just older!!

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by threaded View Post
                They could come to my company, get the product and still achieve those cuts. The increased efficiency would mean they could make bigger savings year on year afterwards too.

                But they won't, 'cause TPTB don't really want any of it to work: can't score political points in the UK on a system that works and doesn't need tinkering with.

                Nurse!!! Threaded needs his medication!

                Comment


                  #9
                  This will cause more problems for the Indian economy than it will ours.
                  Let us not forget EU open doors immigration benefits IT contractors more than anyone

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by DodgyAgent View Post
                    This will cause more problems for the Indian economy than it will ours.
                    Really, I'd say the opposite. What little is still done here will be lost to India as suppliers are put under more pressure to drive down costs.
                    How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror.

                    Follow me on Twitter - LinkedIn Profile - The HAB blog - New Blog: Mad Cameron
                    Xeno points: +5 - Asperger rating: 36 - Paranoid Schizophrenic rating: 44%

                    "We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to high office" - Aesop

                    Comment

                    Working...
                    X