Blair slashes deadline for e-government to 2005

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has shaved three years off the government's target to deliver 100 per cent of its services online.

The revised prediction comes exactly one year after Blair made his original pledge that services will all be available electronically by 2008 (see 'UK Ministers make e-government pledge' http://www.silicon.com/a29290 ).

Cabinet Office Minister Ian McCartney was keen to stress what the government had already achieved to counter claims that the new deadline was unrealistic. He said that health, travel and consumer protection services are currently available over the Internet, and noted that businesses can file tax returns online. From next year they will also be able to file VAT returns electronically.

McCartney will outline the government's corporate IT strategy later today, and will flesh out the details on how the 2005 target will be achieved. He will also announce details of a personalised gateway to government services to be launched in July, called UK Online.

But analysts are not convinced. "That sounds very ambitious," said Geoff Petherick, chairman of the Fair Dealing working party within parliamentary lobby group Eurim. He explained that the civil service is facing a shortfall both in financing and skills. "I don't believe the skills exist in the government to do this. There's a shortfall in industry, not to mention central government," he added.

Perri 6, senior research fellow at the University of Strathclyde, said the government may achieve the target, but it will be meaningless if it simply automates the existing setup for service delivery.

"The official policy goal is about joined-up government," he said. "Automating an existing beaurocratic service is marginally beneficial, but it's not a fundamental redesign. This is a great deal less exciting than it could be."