UK gov ignoring ICT potential - Intellect

Government attempts to improve productivity will fail if it continues to ignore the potential of ICT (Information and Communications Technology) to contribute to the country's performance.

This warning comes from Intellect, the UK's trade association for ICT companies, following the publication of a government report on key indicators for productivity in the UK. In March this year, the government outlined five headline drivers of productivity: investment, innovation, skills, enterprise and competition; and launched a public consultation on particular indicators that would be grouped below these.

Beatrice Rogers, a campaign leader at Intellect, said: "Intellect cannot understand how the Treasury has managed to overlook the importance of ICT when our major competitors around the world recognise its impact on productivity." She argues that the report focuses too heavily on "old economy infrastructure investment relating to roads and transport", to the exclusion of newer technologies.

The government is still relying on old economy measurements, and, she warns, measurement of the wrong indicators will lead to the wrong policies being developed: "We reiterate our warning that...[this will result in]...a UK heading in the wrong direction, and ask Government to recognise the impact of ICT on productivity and growth." ®

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