File: Alvey Programme

Scope and Content

The Alvey programme was a government initiative in information technology in the 1980s. It had various aspects including software engineering, artificial intelligence and systems design. The Programme aimed to promote much closer integration of IT research work between government, business and the universities. The programme was announced in the Alvey report, in 1982, "A programme for advanced information technology", and was implemented from late 1983.

The file comprises papers relating to the University's response including the working part on the Alvey Report which considered the University's existing capability in IT and possible uses for Alvey funds (including new courses and research staff). The working party consulted widely and the file contains valuable information on departments' current and proposed uses for information technology. there are also several versions of the Working Party's final report (January 1983).

There are papers relating tot he aftermath of the working part's report, including the setting up of the Board for Information Technology in 1983, and the work of the After Alvey working party in 1986.

Former reference: 731