In a damning appraisal of the government's approach to the Internet it said that the target of fully on-line government by 2005 was "not realistically achievable". It exhorted ministers to halt the web aspects of the programme to rectify existing faults.
Three-quarters of government websites were deemed inadequate, with one of the worst offenders being the prime minister’s own site. The report described the 10 Downing Street site as "a mess - in need of a thorough overhaul from top to bottom".
The report was highly critical of the prime minsiter's approach to the Web. "What is the point of the Prime Minister - the prime mover in bringing the Government to the people via the web - having a site which announces the opportunity for foreign journalists to ask him questions, yet gives no opportunity for members of the British Public to do so?" it said.
However, with a user rating score of 40.75 per cent, it was pipped as the worst site by the DVLA. The best site was the Department for Education and Skills with 78.5 per cent.
The report called for a more professional approach to websites. "It is clear that the Government’s current Guidelines, despite their eminently practical approach to Web site provision, are not being adhered to. Therefore, it may be that the only way to do this is to impose rigorous standards on Webmasters, and to monitor their implementation, based on a Government-wide high level strategy."
Quelle: internet magazine
