IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

In an attempt to get more citizens to use IT and the Internet, London's Mayor wants the inside track on the 'costs, benefits and risks' of open-source software

London Mayor Ken Livingstone has ordered a report into the benefits and pitfalls of open-source software, as part of an attempt to close the UK capital's digital divide.

Read more: UK: London's Livingstone looks to Linux

The European Commission commissioned Cap Gemini Ernst & Young for the fourth slice of its ongoing survey on the adoption of electronic Public Services across Europe, and results are now available.

A key finding which needs to be taken on board both by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the soon to be created eGovernment replacement to the Office of the e-envoy is that the UK's online public services come 8th in Europe - not performing as well (in terms of sophistication) as many other EU contries (see table below for details).

Read more: UK eGovernment services beaten by 7 other countries, says EU report

The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has launched a comprehensive overview of his policies on Information and Communication Technology. A key theme of his plan is widening take up of ICTs, both as a means of ensuring that technology plays its part in combating social exclusion, and so that London’s business community remains ahead of the game in terms of telecommunications provision.

Read more: Major eGovernment & IT action plans unveiled for London by Ken Livingstone

London's mayor has joined the criticisms of Whitehall's approach to local e-government

Ken Livingston made the comments in a review of the capital's online capabilities, Connecting the capital: information and communications technology in London, published on 29 January 2004. He said there is currently too much central control over placing local services online.

Read more: UK: Livingstone calls for e-freedom