UK invests £1 billion in e-government

The British Government is to plough £1 billion over three years into a major e-government shake-up, Prime Minister announced today.

The initiative will help "foster dot.com innovation and entrepreneurial culture in government". Mr Blair said the results would improve the delivery of information to citizens and help cut the running costs of Government.

Mr Blair has made no secret of his desire to employ IT to help modernise the workings of Government.

Speaking in Loughborough Mr Blair said: "I am determined that, by 2005 at the latest, all Government services will be on-line.

"So we are today announcing that our recent Spending Review earmarked £1 billion for investment in electronic service delivery over the next three years," he said.

He also launched a report e.gov: electronic government services for the 21st century that outlines how the money will be spent.

Among the strategies in place the Government plans to ensure that:

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• Electronic service delivery is joined up - with services focused on the needs of users, rather than Government departments
  
  
• Services are delivered through a range of technologies- based on Internet standards to provide citizens with choice on how to access services
• Services will be open to the private and voluntary sectors - to promote a mixed economy that operates on the basis of what works rather than who provides services
  

E-Government Minister, Ian McCartney, said: "This is a key strategy in our drive to create 24-hour Government at people's fingertips.

"We are determined to modernise public services, making them more convenient and accessible.

"Why should people have to wait in line, when they can get online," he said. ®