Departmental ICT

Mr. Hague
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to page 131 of the 2009 Budget Red Book, what effect the savings he expects to achieve through contract negotiations with his Department's existing telecommunications supplier will have on his Department's IT services; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband
The contract was originally agreed in 2000. Improvements in technology since 2000 have meant the levels of service needed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) can now be delivered at lower unit cost. The negotiations referred to ensure that these lower costs are available to the FCO. The newer technologies available provide faster, more reliable services, allowing FCO staff to work more efficiently.