E-government plans under threat as IT spend goes on back-end systems

Central government is spending more money on IT infrastructure than it is on e-enabling public services in time for its 2005 deadline.

Less than 12 per cent of the government's £2.3bn IT budget is being spent in areas crucial for access to these services, according to research conducted by e-government news service Kablenet.

Government departments are aiming to have 130 services online by the end of this year in a staggered approach to the 2005 deadline.

But the research shows that just £270m has been spent on public service access points, while £700m has gone on back office IT and £1.3bn, or 55 per cent of the budget, on support services such as consultancy and project management.

Overall central government spending on public access points such as kiosks and call centres was lower than the proportion of local government budgets allocated to these services.

Outsourcing contracts accounted for 43 per cent of the central government annual IT budget.