Treasury to replace COINS database?

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The Treasury could drop its Combined Online Information System (COINS) as the Government department’s needs are outgrowing the system’s capability, a spokesperson has hinted.

A new database called the Online System for Central Accounting Reporting (OSCAR) may replace COINS in recording where public money is spent.

Changes will be considered as part of Project OSCAR, which has already commenced, but is subject to ministerial approval and the outcome of the Spending Review due to be published in October, the spokesperson told GC News.

“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 spokesperson said.

“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.”

Sources close to the Treasury told IT PRO the Treasury is looking into making the changes, but could not confirm any further details.

The Government released public spending data through the COINS database in June as part of the coalition’s drive towards greater transparency.

Prime Minister David Cameron promised, not long after coming into power, to make information more readily accessible online so people can see where their taxes are going.

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