Cabinet Office Chief Information Officer

Supporting our armed forces

Providing better medical care for service personnel During 2007 the Defence Medical Information Capability Programme (DMICP) has been successfully rolled out. This database enables the MoD to align medical procedures and practices with those currently being rolled out across the NHS and provides medical professionals with access to the records of military personnel quickly when needed. It will provide electronic data management of medical records for all serving military personnel which will stay with them throughout their Service career (including time spent within NHS health care).

In addition, the system will provide a facility of seamless transfer of electronic medical records from the NHS when a new recruit joins the Armed Forces and back to the NHS on completion of service. System roll–out started this year with pilot sites in the UK [External website].

Delivering diplomatic and consular services

Video conference and web development
Diplomacy is still anchored on face–to–face communications which can make coordination of policy across time zones, and over large distances, challenging for staff. In 2007 the FCO began rolling out a global video–conferencing solution across its network. Beginning with 80 high priority Posts, the new system allows for secure video–conferencing between two or more locations, reducing travel requirements and significantly increasing available time for staff. The system has improved decision making and consultation between posts.

The customer’s experience of the FCO website will be enhanced with the introduction of a new web platform. This will enable the FCO to deliver content in a more engaging and interactive way, taking advantage of more multi media options. The main website is now available in Urdu and Arabic.

Key achievements in 2007

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been examining its business practices, seeking ways that it can exploit investments in technology, to improve the diversity of its staff and enable more flexible working. The FCO is rolling out a modern IT desktop across its huge global estate. Until the remote working choices in that project are delivered, the FCO has invested in two interim solutions:

• Staff working from home or travelling without a laptop can stay in touch with colleagues via an unclassified webmail interface.
• Chorus, a remote working solution, allows users full and secure access to their email and corporate data over a public internet connection.

Managing Britain’s aid to poor countries

Effective international development
Recent years have seen big changes to the way DFID works. The department is increasingly moving away from project delivery to generating development outcomes, learning to work faster and smarter to deliver a high quality of service and maintain the UK’s position as one of the leading international development donors.

New HR systems and overseas communications links
During 2006/07, DFID’s Catalyst business change programme helped staff to work more effectively by delivering new systems for document management and collaboration and for managing Human Resources, therefore increasing the resilience of communication links in a number of overseas locations.

Expected developments for 2008

In 2008, MoD will continue the roll–out of the Defence Information Infrastructure, which is vital to the Defence Change Programme (DCP). The DCP uses IT business change programmes to modernise processes and systems across defence, which will underpin the delivery of military capability.

The Joint Asset Management & Engineering Solution (JAMES) is a tri–service asset management system that will provide the Armed Forces with a global view on the locations, use and maintenance of vehicle fleets. The system will improve the management of Defence vehicles through realtime global visibility of equipment and storage. JAMES 1, which provides asset management and limited maintenance facilities, is currently being rolled out to units and 61% of the regular Army and Territorial Army (TA) have now been integrated into the system. JAMES Land is under development and scheduled for Initial Operating Capability in September 2009, providing full asset management and the engineering functions.

From Spring 2008 the FCO will roll out a new IT system to its 16,000 users across the globe, allowing staff to do their job wherever and whenever they need to. The Third Generation Firecrest will:

• provide users with a more stable and secure platform that is designed to grow as the organisation evolves;
• improve information management tools; and
• provide up–to–date mobility and remote–working options.

In 2007/8 DFID will deliver a complete new system for managing their finances, procurement and international development programmes.