To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent on information technology (IT) sourced from outside her Department and its predecessor in each of the last five years; who is responsible for such projects in her Department; and what IT (a) expertise and (b) qualifications they possess. (71786)

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) was created in May 2006 and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in May 2002. Expenditure on IT sourced externally over this period is as follows:

Regarding responsibility for IT projects, ODPM introduced dual key sign off in 2005-06, under which IT expenditure is approved jointly by the CIO and the relevant business manager. Prior to this responsibility rested with project Executives (formerly Senior Responsible Owner under Prince2 methodology).

There is no central record of project Executives, their expertise and qualifications; providing this information could not be achieved without incurring disproportionate cost.