Whitehall IT spend set to increase

Despite a string of IT disasters the rate of central government IT spend will increase over the next two years according to research from analyst group Kable.

Total spend will increase from £1.9bn in 1998-1999 to £2.2bn in 2002-2003 with IT's share of government spending rising from less than 4% to almost 5%.

Kable reported five departments accounted for 70% of total spending.

The Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise spending will rise 29%, the social security department will rise 16%, environment 11%, trade and industry 9% and the Home Office 5%.

The Law Officers' Department will have the fastest growing budget, with a predicted increase of 46% over five years.