The government must remove barriers to data sharing in order to deliver e-government services to excluded groups, according to an official report issued on 1 November 2005.
The unit, which is part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, argues that technology is already being embraced by excluded groups but it acknowledges that some efforts to provide e-services are being held up by technical, legislative and cultural barriers.
Speaking at a press briefing to launch the report, Jim Fitzpatrick the minister responsible for local e-government admitted that key issues such as data sharing have still not been adequately addressed.
Despite attempts over the past four years in Whitehall to address the data sharing issue, little has been achieved.
Fitzpatrick said that the report marks "another staging post" in the effort to encourage "joined up thinking". He said that the Department for Work and Pensions is looking to link its database of people receiving benefits to other public services.
He said there is a degree of "cross referencing" at local levels to for health and social services departments target "the most vulnerable people".
"Being at the stage that we are, where we now have the critical mass of data across the piece in local authorities and government departments trying to get transformational government to link it up, we are always coming at it from two different angles. We have this mass of data but we've got this overriding ambition to make the connections and its bringing the two together which is happening. But we obviously want to see it happening as quickly as possible."
The report outlines a range of measures to ensure that e-government reaches excluded people. They include:
- setting up a digital inclusion unit, which would be a voluntary sector agency providing guidance on the roll out of e-services for disadvantaged people
- The Department for Work and Pensions to take "additional powers" in the forthcoming housing benefits legislation to allow greater information sharing between central government and councils
- the extension of powers to the mayor of London and other local leaders to encourage data sharing at a local level
It also recommends that the government develops a "core communications strategy" to encourage staff delivering public services to share information.
In addition, the "digital challenge" strategy first outlined before the general election is to be launched in the next few weeks, Fitzpatrick said. The plan, which aims to make the UK the first nation to close the digital divide, encourages councils to offer inclusive e-services.<
Quelle: KableNET, 01.11.2005
