[LINK] itNews: eGovt to be the norm after only 20 yrs?

[Roger Clarke]

British Government services to go digital by default
Juha Saarinen
Nov 7, 2012 7:33 AM (1 hour ago)
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/322107,british-government-services-to-go-digital-by-default.aspx

The British government is aiming to accelerate savings of billions of 
pounds through a redesign of its seven largest websites, making 
transactions between government, subjects and businesses digital by 
default.

A sweeping new digital strategy announced by UK Paymaster General and 
Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude will push tax payments, driving 
test bookings and other government-related transactions online, the 
Guardian reported.

Maude is expecting savings of £1.2 billion in the first three years 
and £1.7 billion annually from 2015 ($1.84 and $2.6 billion 
respectively).

Inland Revenue, the Departments for Transport, Work and Pensions, 
Business, Information and Skills, Environment, Farming and Rural 
Affairs as well as the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office are 
part of Maude's digital strategy.

Between them, the seven agencies handle 90 percent of all central 
government transactions, or over a billion a year across 650 services.

"Digital services are much more convenient because they can be 
accessed whenever you want them," Maude told the Guardian.

"They are also much more efficient, saving taxpayers' money and the 
user's time. Online transactions can be 20 times cheaper than by 
phone, 30 times cheaper than face-to-face, and up to 50 times cheaper 
than by post".

However, the Guardian's report notes that going digital for 
government services could disadvantage low-income groups and points 
to research that shows 18 percent of adults never or rarely using the 
Internet, while a further 12 percent are offline and unwilling to get 
online.


-- 
Roger Clarke                                 http://www.rogerclarke.com/
			            
Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
                    Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au                http://www.xamax.com.au/

Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Law               University of NSW
Visiting Professor in Computer Science    Australian National University