ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the Department's approach to its own information needs and explores the links with local authorities' systems. The original strategy programme ran from 1991-1992 to 1994-1995 so a review was carried out during 1994 of the future approach to information in this area. Departmental involvement with information systems has been even more arms' length. The Department of Health has steadily extended its strategic approach on information provision and use within the Department. The chapter explains the way the Department is approaching its own information needs and considered briefly the Department's role in relation to local authority information and information systems. This is a less well-established area and the Department's role is much less directive than in the case of specification of national statistics. The Department owns and specifies the national statistical collection of data on Children Looked After.
