In his letter, Steve wrote: “One might think that banks had introduced chip-and-PIN merely so they can refuse all refunds on disputed transactions because they can always say: ‘How did they know your PIN?’" (Suspicious minds, Letters blog).

Was this not precisely the reason chip-and-PIN was invented? Credit card fraud cost banks more than £150m per year, because the rules said that users would be protected from fraud that was not the user’s fault. Chip-and-PIN was designed as a way of proving blame. If you can prove it was the card user’s fault, for example they gave away their PIN, you can deny liability.

Phil, submitted on the web

As demand for more agile IT systems increases, integration skills will become ever more sought after (Fitting the skills together).

However, while the need for professionals skilled in business intelligence and service-oriented architecture (SOA) projects is great, companies must be wary of neglecting their core systems.

Many of those equipped to deal with such systems are approaching retirement. If firms cannot find staff who are proficient with such hardware, and as a consequence are unable to access or keep up these systems, the results for UK businesses could be disastrous.

Although professionals with advanced integration skills are crucial to modern IT projects, the need to maintain core systems should not be underestimated.

Both businesses and government must take the initiative to provide workers with both of these skill sets, to ensure that the UK remains competitive in the global economy.

Arunn Ramadoss

This government hardly has an unblemished record when it comes to complicated systems integration. Aside from the moral dilemma, I have serious concerns for the safety and security of my private information (The surveillance society).

Putting health records, criminal records and bank details all in one place strikes me as the very worst thing to do in a climate in which identity theft is such a major issue.

Tom French

It comes as no surprise to me that fewer than half of managers believe their company has effectively integrated internal IT processes across the business (UK supply chains lack integration).

In the UK, the supply chain is more fragmented, creating a complex process, so companies need to think beyond IT. Getting value from your supply chain to deliver differentiation, reduce costs and mitigate risk is achievable, but so many companies find they are trying to hit a moving target.

Before integration, organisations need to look at the culture of the company as a whole to make sure the right system is put in place and that, in time, it can still work effectively to improve the efficiency of the supply chain.

For IT to be integrated effectively you must have the buy-in of your staff and suppliers, and getting everyone on the same page is absolutely critical. The success of any integration will ultimately depend on the environment of the supply chain and the relationships within it.

Fazal Ahmad, WCI

I fail to see the problem with sharing clinical information between suitably identified and authorised individuals using the NHS Spine (GP trial passes test, 22 March).
If I suffer a compound fracture of my leg in Devon and live in Cumbria I absolutely want the A&E staff treating me to know that I have an important pre-existing condition - allergy to penicillin, for example.
Are the people who instruct their GP not to release their details to other staff (Letters, 11, 18, 25 January) aware of the implications for future treatment?
People do not complain that staff at various branches of the same bank – and other undisclosed associated companies - may see credit history and payment details.
If I tried to prevent my bank doing this I would undoubtedly be asked to take my custom elsewhere. What would be the reaction of the public if the NHS adopted the same attitude I wonder?
Andrew Turner

You report that the court IT system has come under renewed attack from Britain's magistrates in an unprecedented protest letter to prime minister Tony Blair (Fresh concerns raised over Magistrate's IT system, computing.co.uk/2173242).
The simple fact is that the Libra system - and Mass before it - is failing at basic levels. IT staff, who are working on outdated equipment, are left having to patch systems as best they can, pinning their hopes on the promise of a system that so far has shown little or no progress.
R Davies

This is such a disappointing result yet again for national IT in the police service (Budget threat to police, 8 March). Once again, huge quantities of public money - £30m-plus - have been wasted over the past two and a half years on a programme that has seen the Crisp core interim system abandoned due to technical issues with its scalability, when many members of the police IT community have been stating this for the past 12 months.
Why, when there are pockets of good practice in terms of data sharing and implemented large-scale solutions that already share information and intelligence within the service, are we blindly spending money and the centre on large-scale developments that never work or deliver value for money? NSPIS Case & Custody being a prime example.
Surely it is time that the whole area of IT ambitions from the centre is reformed.
Jerry Wise

It is true that instant messaging is considered mission critical in financial services but a distraction elsewhere (What the experts say about instant messaging, 1 March). 
I am old enough - just - to remember a time when email was in a similar position.  People would say: ‘I don't have time to email. Why don't you just pick up the phone?’
I hear the same today about instant messaging - though less and less all the time. It will break through to the mainstream enterprise – it is a matter of when not if.
Graham Lawlor

You report that the GSM-Railway (GSM-R) communications system has been further delayed (Further testing delays rail system arrival time, 1 March). You also explain that the European safety system that requires GSM-R uses transponders that record a train’s position and automatically apply the brakes when necessary.
It is worth noting that the Great Western Railway had a similar system called Automatic Train Control (ATC). This system continued in use with little alteration until the 1980s. By the way, ATC was introduced almost 100 years ago.
Before some apologist for our current shambles of a railway system claims that things are different now, the train service provided by Great Western Railway was faster, more frequent and more reliable - and just as safe.
Jeremy Sellick