near-meltdown with IT across the whole of the DWP

NitroNutter · 26-11-2004, 04:52

A huge crash in the DWP computer systems left most in the DWP without access to the system.

Im sure when I recently spoke about direct payment issue that I was assured by the representative that the DWP computers "do not crash ever"

This event has of course re assured me they were correct in that statement.
The DWP has the ultimate computer system and it cannot even fall foul to human error.

BBKing · 26-11-2004, 09:24

The dread words 'EDS' and 'Microsoft' appear in relation to this story. EDS of course were relieved of one large government contract due to poor performance, but this won't stop them bidding for identity card work. MS are still going strong in the NHS.

Theodoric · 26-11-2004, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBKing

The dread words 'EDS' and 'Microsoft' appear in relation to this story. EDS of course were relieved of one large government contract due to poor performance, but this won't stop them bidding for identity card work. MS are still going strong in the NHS.

Yes, EDS's name does tend to crop up quite frequently. The government is also fighting a series of reaguard actions against making public why these failures occur. IIRC, their latest tactic was to refuse to give the results of the Gateway reviews of some project or other to a Parliamentary committee.

BBKing · 26-11-2004, 17:31

"Commercial confidentiality", which means "you pay, but we won't tell you what we're spending your money on, or why". Makes me boil over.

Theodoric · 26-11-2004, 19:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBKing

"Commercial confidentiality", which means "you pay, but we won't tell you what we're spending your money on, or why". Makes me boil over.

Yes, the Unholy Trinity; national security, against the public interest and commercial confidentiality.

BBKing · 26-11-2004, 20:56

Actually, on a slightly different tack, the head of Network Rail, John Armitt, said on R5 this evening that having NR underwritten by the state and taking back contracts in house from private maintenance contractors had improved efficiency and cut costs (particularly interest payments). Presumably there's the added benefit of proper accountability, no shareholders to pay and transparent accounting. A useful model to follow for other parts of the public sector that rely on quality engineering?

paulyoung666 · 26-11-2004, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBKing

Actually, on a slightly different tack, the head of Network Rail, John Armitt, said on R5 this evening that having NR underwritten by the state and taking back contracts in house from private maintenance contractors had improved efficiency and cut costs (particularly interest payments). Presumably there's the added benefit of proper accountability, no shareholders to pay and transparent accounting. A useful model to follow for other parts of the public sector that rely on quality engineering?

the railways should never have been denationalised , along with the power industry etc etc etc

BBKing · 27-11-2004, 11:40

Quote:

the railways should never have been denationalised

Quite - the amount of public money is required to support the railways was lowest under early 90s state control and highest under late 90s private control. Punctuality was the other way round! This is the exact opposite of the claims made by the privatisers, which is why they should be distrusted (the same view that you run organisations by having a small management with heavily contracted bought-in services is what's led to the PFI and IT cock ups recently).