IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

The Office of the eEnvoy is to be replaced in 2004, following today's announcement by Minister for the Cabinet Office, Douglas Alexander, who has unveiled the Government's intention to appoint a Head of eGovernment. Following the end of e-Envoy Andrew Pinders's contract in April, the changes will take place, with staff transferring from Office of the e-Envoy to Head of eGovernment departments. The head of eGovernment will be expected to work closely with the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), whose role is likely to grow in influence and significance over the coming two years.

Announcing the detailed responsibilities of the Head of e-Government, Douglas Alexander said: "The appointment of a Head of eGovernment represents an evolution in the e-envoy role which will build on the achievements of the last four years. The Head of eGovernment will play a pivotal role in supporting the Prime Minister’s vision for public service reform. Their task will be to focus on ensuring that IT supports the business transformation of Government itself so that we can provide better, more efficient, public services."

The UK Online Annual Report published today outlined the five key principles which the new Head of e-Government will use to underpin the future of public service delivery:

• Building services around customers,
• moving towards web-based service delivery,
• driving cost out from service delivery,
• using technology to free up those in the front line of service delivery,
• automating and integrating a greater number of back office functions.

The Head of eGovernment will be based in the Cabinet Office and will report to the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Andrew Turnbull and Minister for the Cabinet Office. Their specific responsibilities will include:

• delivering the existing Cabinet Office PSA target for electronic service delivery;
• defining and driving implementation of a Government-wide information systems strategy to support the public sector reform agenda;
• defining the architecture, requirements, and standards, and be the intelligent customer, for common Government infrastructure and services;
• providing leadership and guidance for the Government IT community; and acting as the Central Sponsor for Information Assurance.

The Office of the eEnvoy is part of the Prime Minister's Delivery and Reform team based in the Cabinet Office. The primary focus of the Office of the e-Envoy is to improve the delivery of public services and achieve long term cost savings by joining-up online government services around the needs of customers. The e-Envoy is responsible for ensuring that all Government services are available electronically by 2005 with key services achieving high levels of use.

The Office continues to ensure that the country, its citizens and its businesses derive maximum benefit from the knowledge economy. It works to meet the Prime Minister's target for internet access for all who want it by 2005 and supports work across Government to develop the UK as a world leader for electronic business.

Quelle: PublicTechnology, 15.12.2003