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Our council is spending £24m a year on IT while the Government's promise of free school meals might never be

It has recently been revealed that an IT deal between the city council and BT is costing around £24 million in basic work such as rebooting the computer or changing a password. Are these standard prices, do you think, or are they spending way too much?

If the council's own IT staff can't change a password, or - more worryingly – "press a button" then I think we've uncovered the real scandal.
Joe Smith, Moscow

The charges are only the tip of the iceberg – the amount of staff hours lost through their poor time scales and service will be even more scandalous. Can't access your essential directories on your PC? Not a problem, BT will fix it in 72 hours (working hours that is) meanwhile you have staff who can't do their work properly for days.
Labradoodle

It was self employed IT contractors that handle the IT support on behalf of BT in the schools and at BT offices. Each one had 4, 5 or 6 schools to cover on a daily basis. SLA's were usually always done in time. So for some supposed IT expert, to say out loud, "five-day turnaround for some jobs is ridiculous". With no experience of the size of job that this is, they should stick to doing two RAM upgrades per day.
Deek

Hmm, this is getting a bit technical. Can someone explain it more simply?

Of course if the council employed permanent staff then they would have to pay sick pay, holiday pay, pensions and all other benefits. IT is outsourced because, believe it or not, it's generally cheaper than having an army of your own staff doing the same thing. Can't believe I just stood up for the council there.
The Genuine Mario Antoinette

The council may be able to afford £17 for password changes and such like but the Scottish Government needs more money to offer the free school meals they promised.

I think this is scandalous. Why exactly does the already hard pressed council tax payer have to help support other peoples children? Surely only children who really need this should be given free school meals? I mean, parents in Barnton, Corstorphine, Morningside, etc, you cannot honestly tell me that they cannot afford to pay for their child's school meals? Yet another daft idea from the SNP at Holyrood.
Linmal, Livingston

Seems other countries who had a massive health problem, offer FREE meals to all school children and as a result health is improving. Surely ALL our kids deserve the equal treatment and chance of a meal too? And we ALL contribute towards the cost of improving health.
Resolutions

Having just gone into P2 my son would benefit from this for 2 years but I don't support the idea. My Husband and I make more than enough money to pay the £1.75 per day for his lunch. There are children who badly need the free school meals and they should continue to receive them but the council shouldn't be paying for kids whose parents can comfortably afford to do it. If the MSPs are so keen to give away cash then they can give the school my son's £1.75 per day for the next 2 years. I'm sure the funds will be put to good use.
Mrs M,Edinburgh