Quote of the day
“The result was lamentable. The underlying computer system was inadequately procured and tested, resulting in an unstable setup when it was switched on. [Department for Transport] staff do not trust the system which is hardly surprising when we hear that on occasion it took to issuing messages in German.”
- Edward Leigh, the Public Accounts Committee’s chairman, who accused Transport ministers of “stupendous incompetence” after their ‘efficiency drive’ aimed at cutting back-office costs saved £40 million but cost £121 million to implement, leaving the taxpayer with a bill £81 million
I’m intrigued as to what the German messages were?
“Zis syztem iz paid vor out ov ein unsuztainable public debt..”?
Another IT-related government cock-up?
These are becoming as predictable (and expensive!) as modern Hollywood ‘blockbusters’…
I know, shocking stuff – I’d never has guessed that ministers were completely incompetent and had no idea what they are doing.
It only gets sadder when these clearly technologically incompetent (not to mention managerially inept!) people try to legislate or berate information technology from their position of near perfect ignorance.