Data stores 'to save billions'

Government-held information is to be gathered into 12 "secure" centres as part of a new IT strategy that Ministers claimed today could save taxpayers £3.2 billion a year from 2013.

By The Newsroom

Published 27th Jan 2010, 10:01 BST

Updated 27th Jan 2010, 10:02 BST

The blueprint also includes the creation of a so-called "G-cloud" – a secure online network through which all parts of government can run IT applications and standardised designs for computers across the public sector.

It is hoped the changes would also dramatically cut carbon emissions and make public sector IT carbon neutral "across its lifecycle" by 2020.

Cabinet Office Minister Angela Smith said: "Our new ICT strategy is smarter, cheaper and greener and will save the public purse 3.2 billion annually."

At present, information is held in hundreds of different centres and the Government has faced controversies over lost sensitive and personal information.

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