Election Special: Central IT projects and data privacy

Labour has said it will scale back the NHS IT project

The question of which political party will drive the best strategy for the technology industry is a difficult one, and has no certain answer.

With this in mind, V3.co.uk has spoken with the three main parties on the most important tech issues, and compared IT strategies head-to-head.

We interviewed Labour MP and minister for Digital Britain Stephen Timms, Conservative MP and shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt and Liberal Democrat MP and shadow business secretary John Thurso.

This section will look at how the parties compare when it comes to central government IT projects, public sector databases and data privacy.

The Labour government has been accused of eroding the public's privacy by creating too many government databases and central IT projects, many of which are greatly over budget and behind schedule.

The numerous large-scale data losses by government departments has only heightened public concerns over the government's storing too much of their data.

Labour has denied accusations that government holds too much public data, arguing that the databases and central IT projects provide efficient public services and joined-up public sector departments that can better protect the vulnerable.

The party has also said that the rollout of ID cards will continue, but that they will not be extended to the whole UK population during the next parliament. Labour has claimed that the cards will give the government more control over immigration and crime.

Labour has proposed major NHS cutbacks, and has said it will scale back the NHS IT project. Yet confusion surrounds this agenda because the party has also said that the cost-cutting will not affect the central IT system.