Parliament ponders £400,000 iPads-for-MPs plan
Representatives to get slated
Members of Parliament may soon be issued with an iPad each in a scheme that could cost the tax payer over £400,000.
House members have been testing the Apple tablet throughout the past 12 months in a bid to modernise the Mother of Parliaments and save print costs.
Now the cross-party Administration Committee has recommended a "rapid roll-out" of iPads to issue all 650 MPs with "suitable mobile tablet hardware", the Press Association reports.
"It seems that this is the future, for the convenience in terms of dealing with all the work MPs have to do, but also because it assists in what is a determined policy of the House: reducing the use of paper," quoth Committee Chairman Sir Alan Haselhurst.
"There is a pretty sure case to say that the supply of these will lead to an overall saving for the public purse," he added.
While no estimate on how much wonga could be saved through the technological upgrade, the Chairman insisted the trial, involving 16 members of his committee, saved "several thousands of pounds" simply by circulating information electronically.
If Parliament hands over top-of-the-range tablets at £659 .a pop, the move would cost in excess of £430,000 up front, though a bulk-purchase and selecting lesser-spec iPads could reduce this considerably
A final decision whether or not to issue fondleslabs will be made by the ruling Commons Commission later this month.
In 2011, Labour MP Kerry McCarthy become the first British politician to read a speech from an iPad in Parliament. ®
COMMENTS
Did they test any other tablets from other manufacturers?
If they did not then this purchase proposal should be turned down, proper testing done and several producers (Apple included) should be invited to tender for the contract. Otherwise one might be left with the impression that a bunch of middle class politicians are getting us to pay for what is fashionable in the circles they move in.
Seriously?????
Why can't they all just FUCK RIGHT OFF.
You already have been supplied with a laptop. If you want a shiny toy you do what the rest of the world has to do and buy it out of your own pocket you horrible, cheating, wheedling little c***s. Even in the big corporates (where iPads are quite common) people don't get away with expensing them.
Reducing waste..
Well this may save paper in the short run, but what about the waste when they all want the latest iPad? What kind of longevity will they get out of these? And what about breakages?
Paper is easily recycled as well, the same can't be said for most gadgets.
Presumably, they'll want them all upgraded within 5 or so years. Do they spend more than £400,000 on paper in 5 years?
This should raise Government efficiency
Just look at how many secret documents you can give away by leaving a single iPad on a train...
Vic.
Upgraded within 5 years? I'll be amazed if 50% haven't been left in the back of taxis within 6 months.
