Industry news

Govt IT overspending leads to cutbacks

After overspending on two IT initiatives, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has been forced to make cutbacks on some of its development plans.

Originally estimated at £180 million, the restyled FCO Telecommunications Network has actually cost £240 million.

Elsewhere, the Future Firecrest programme which involved upgrading worldwide desktop systems is expected to overspend by a further £26 million.

This has resulted in funding for the iRecords electronic document management system to be reduced from £26.5 million to £5.1 million, while spending on an FCO web platform is also expected to be cut from £13.5 million to £9.7 million.

Commenting on the overspend, an FCO spokeswoman said: "It is a cost that has enabled a flexible and cost-effective response to increasing international pressures and commitments."

Although the first secretary of state for foreign affairs was appointed in 1782, the first Foreign Office was not started until 1861.

It was completed seven years later as part of a block of government offices, including the India Office and subsequently the Home Office and Colonial Office.