An internal Legal & General e-mail uncovered by Computer Weekly revealed that the company could soon outsource its IT infrastructure. The two suppliers who named as possible vendors were IBM or Fujitsu.

Other services that could be outsourced include infrastructure and operations, IT security operations and assurance, and parts of IT procurement and IT supplier relationship management.

The email stated: "We are considering outsourcing these services with a single provider because we believe this will give us the most straightforward operating model - with clear accountability or provision of service. It will also allow us to make best use of the third party's technical and operational expertise."