Science Update: Tried, but not true

GOVERNMENT departments that stick to tried-and-tested solutions to their computing problems are suppressing innovation and increasing the risk of inefficiency, according to Charles Cox, the public sector director of Hoskyns, one of Britain's largest computer services companies.

He told a meeting on 'Making Technology Pay' in London that suppliers must be given the chance to be flexible in meeting the goals of departments.

Mr Cox said that recent initiatives to ensure value for money from government computing investments could also be undermined if too small a group of suppliers was asked to bid for contracts.