Manifestos? IT aims are miles off target

The UK?s three main political parties are failing to address the key IT investment issues in the run up to the general election on 1 May.

According to a report by the Computing Services & Software Association (CSSA), Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have no clear idea about how to put their IT plans into action.

The findings will come as a blow to the parties, all of which have made statements on the importance of IT investment in their manifestos.

Liberal Democrat science and technology representative Nigel Jones MP has said his party wants to equip every child at secondary school with a notebook PC.

This plan would require an investment in the region of #1 billion followed by a further #200 million a year.

The CSSA report suggested that Jones? plans, like those of the other main parties, are full of intent but lacking in real details and are unlikely to be put into action.

Rob Wirszycz, director general of the CSSA, said the problem lies with politicians? failure to understand the IT industry.

?They don?t seem to understand that technology has changed the world dramatically since the last election when, for example, the internet wasn?t an issue,? he said.

The CSSA report added that: ?Goals are set in the party manifestos regarding the use of IT, but the ?how? of achieving these aims is not detailed. This is a worrying omission by the three main political parties.?