Computerworld UK staff

Five suppliers have been chosen to deliver the IT systems for the National Identity Scheme (NIS) project. The Home Office announced that CSC, EDS, Fujitsu, IBM and Thales have all been invited to sign framework contracts and form a Strategic Supplier Group for the scheme.

The Norwegian unit of Scanadanivan Airlines was fined for unlawfully accessing passenger and pricing information of a competitor. Apparently they shared a booking system, but after that arrangement was cancelled SAS Norway continued accessing the system for three years

A new CIO and Director of IT Programme and System delivery are being sought by the U.K. Department of Health (DoH) as a result of Richard Granger's departure in January. Both roles are advertised with salaries of UK$200,000.

Official critical of government and private sector, saying they need to regain public's trust by being far more careful with personal information

New system, way behind schedule, was to improve accounting for benefit and pension payments, tackle fraud and reduce risks of service failure

An inquiry has been launched by the U.K. Ministry of Defence after admitting to the loss of two laptops containing unencrypted personal details. The additional losses came to light during the investigation of the theft earlier this year of a laptop containing 600,000 peoples' personal details.

An official insists the unencrypted data was not sensitive and the laptops were password-protected, but the Ministry of Defence is launching a new inquiry

Richard Granger, the former head of NHS Connecting for Health, the agency charged with creating and delivering the UK$12.4 billion National Programme for IT in the NHS, has finally left Whitehall.