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Member’s Constituency Work

Volume 457: debated on Tuesday 6 March 2007

To ask the Leader of the House what (a) advice, (b) practical support and (c) software and hardware is provided to hon. Members for the electronic collection and management of constituents’ casework. (125637)

I understand that the Parliamentary ICT Service (PICT) does not recommend or support any specific casework products for use by Members or their staff.

The standard range of Microsoft software and hardware supplied to Members can be used to assist with the management of constituents’ casework, but only general application and hardware support is given in this respect.

This position is reviewed from time-to-time. For example, the scope to provide caseworker software centrally was not pursued several years ago by the Advisory Panel on Members’ Allowances after an external consultancy review concluded that it was not possible to develop a single product that could accommodate the different ways in which Members work. PICT is currently investigating an alternative approach based on working more closely with the most popular casework suppliers. This would ensure that Members retain the flexibility to use the products they wish to, while receiving more integrated support.