Slowly slowly catchee Government IT monkey

Given that the fallout from the HMRC game of who wants some confidential data today is still with us, perhaps this is not the best time to be sending out press releases arguing that ICT suppliers must play a crucial role in modernising the welfare system and social services. The government record on implementing massive IT programmes is, well, typical of what happens on any scale when bean counters and politicians (which you can substitute for non-IT-savvy and without strategic vision management as the situation demands) are in charge of such things. Do I really need to shout the roll call of dishonour when it comes to hugely over-budget and under-performing systems, inadequate security and a blatant disregard for basic data protection requirements? No, didn't think so.