In October broadband1 connections formed 58.9% of all internet connections, up from 57.3% in September 2005 according to the latest monthly update to the survey of Internet Service Providers (ISPs). 

Government Departments in Northern Ireland received 592 requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in the third quarter of 2005.

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Audata is delighted to announce that it is adding records management training to its portfolio of services.  The  course will be a two day course, covering the fundamentals of records management, although tailored courses can also be arranged.

UK councils have thus far invested over £13 billion in Information and Communication Technology since the beginning of the local eGovernment programme, with the annual expenditure on IT systems, services and staff rising by 23 per cent in 2005/06 to £3.3bn, according to the 19th edition of Socitm’s annual "IT Trends in Local Government" survey.  Half of this cash has come from central government funding, with the remainder contributed from council coffers.

Based on answers to questionnaires returned by over 200 councils, the results indicate that both ICT managers and e-Champions are very positive about the benefits of technology and that "eGovernment is improving the quality of people's lives" to help deliver better services, but were less sure of how ICT can contribute to delivering the Gershon efficiency targets.

A report issued this week suggests that an increasing number of small businesses are winning contracts from central government, according to a joint Department for Trade and Industry/Office of Government Commerce report.  The report shows that SMEs’ share of government contracts to have risen from 18%  to 22% over the past year.

Small business minister Barry Gardiner MP said: “It is encouraging that the value share of central government contracts awarded to small businesses has increased.

“But the public sector must do more to ensure that it is making the best possible use of the innovation and dynamism that the small business sector can bring.”

Audata are delighted that its contract to supply a records management service to Pfizer Ltd has been extended by an additional year.

Audata are proud to announce that they have been awarded a contract to conduct an information audit for Her Majesty's Treasury.

Audata are proud to announce that they will be undertaking an information audit for Greater Merseyside Connexions.

The Greater Merseyside Connexions Service offers a comprehensive career, advice, guidance and information service and places more people aged 16 - 18 into work than other similar organisations.

The European Union has released statistics that show there is a divide between the number of young people who use technology and the number of old people who do.  Education levels also play a major part in technology use.

The statistics showed that in 2004 on average 85 per cent of European students used the internet compared with only one in eight retired people.

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