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. "The mayor believes that the national e-government programme, while containing many valuable elements, continues to suffer from Whitehall departmentalism," the review says. "In e-government, as in other areas, the mayor agrees with the Government that giving local and regional government more freedom and flexibility to set and pursue their own priorities is more likely to deliver the overall objectives of the Government's UK Online strategy.
"In many policy areas local and regional government is well placed to join up the very large national topic-focussed programmes now being funded - in health, criminal justice or education for example."
Livingstone also added his voice to those claiming that so far it has been difficult to see savings from investment in online systems. He said the public sector should invest in technology – and held up his congestion charge as an example of how it can deliver new services – but sait it has to be done sensitively and with reference to concerns over security and civil liberties.
Quelle: Kablenet, 29.01.2004
