The objects of this paper are to consider how a life office in the United Kingdom might approach the question of using electronic data processing equipment and to indicate some of the problems which will be encountered—without, I am afraid, supplying all the answers. There are in fact very few questions on this subject to which a general answer can be given. Although a good deal can be gained from exchanging information and ideas, it will ultimately be up to each individual office to solve its own particular problems.

Many of the difficulties one meets in discussing this subject arise from the widely differing circumstances in the various offices. Each person naturally tends to approach the problem from the point of view of his own office, and consequently suggests different answers partly because he is considering different questions. I have therefore felt it desirable to limit the scope of the paper, and since there are important differences between the offices which transact industrial assurance and those which do not, I propose to confine my attention to the problems of an industrial/ordinary office. A further limitation is that group business is not discussed.