Summary
The Internet has become an important way of improving the delivery of public services. The Government spends an estimated £208 million a year on delivering services and related information online, such as the renewal of vehicle excise duty, the filing of tax returns and for the matching of applicants to jobs.
This Report from the Committee of Public Accounts, 'Government on the Internet: Progress in Delivering Information and Services Online'
(HC 143), follows on from a July 2007 National Audit Office Report on the same subject (HC 529, Session 2006-07).
A quarter of Government organisations still cannot provide data on the cost of their websites, over 40% of organisations can only provide estimates, and 16% of Government organisations do not have a good knowledge about the users of their websites. Even where user data is being collected, it is not always being used to inform and improve websites. A third of sites do not meet the Cabinet Office's own user accessibility standards.
The Government has embarked on an ambitious strategy to move most citizen and business facing internet services and related information to two websites, Direct.gov.uk and businesslink.gov.uk, by 2011. These sites are well regarded by the public and industry and both have received awards. The Government also aims to rationalise websites by closing almost 1,000 unnecessary sites.
For Government, internet services are cheaper than traditional ways of delivering services and information. However, 75% of socially excluded people and 51% of people on low incomes do not use the Internet and there is a risk that these groups - who are often major users of public services - will not benefit from the Government's drive to expand the use of the Internet.
Found this story interesting?
Spread the news by
clicking below to add it to your bookmarking service: