Treasury considers Coins replacement

Project Oscar begins to take shape

By Kable, 5th August 2010

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HM Treasury is looking at the possible replacement of the Combined Online Information System.

A spokesperson for the department told GC News that work has begun on Project Oscar, which could possibly lead to the creation of a new database called the Online System for Central Accounting Reporting.

If it is adopted, it would take over Coins' role of recording where public money comes from and where it is spent. It hit the headlines in late May when it was made available online for the first time as part of the government's campaign for greater transparency.

The spokesperson said: "Coins was introduced in 2005 and is over half way through its expected life. The changing needs of the Treasury are outgrowing the capabilities of the current system.

"The Treasury envisages the need for a system, which can better support: improved transparency of public sector financial information; simplified publication of the database data itself; improved system functionality; enhanced access to data for system users; data storage with increased granularity; and the ability to better analyse and model information at the centre of government."

The move comes during a moratorium on central government IT projects, but the spokesperson suggested that, if the replacement is deemed necessary, it could be approved later in the year.

"This project is subject to ministerial approval and the outcome of the Spending Review, which will be published on 20 October," she said.

This article was originally published at Kable.

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