Government departments have a "tendency to find reasons for
inaction" and a reluctance to invest in Internet-based technologies
because they fear an IT disaster, according to a National Audit
Office report.
Although the report is entitled "Better Public Services Through
E-Government" it takes a look at government IT projects in general
and highlights many weaknesses.
It says departments are adopting a "wait and see" approach to
electronic service delivery.
Although more than 50% of government services are online in that
they give advice and information, only a "small number" of services
are available electronically, where a citizen can apply for and
receive a service such as a new passport or driving licence.
The report found there was an "unwillingness to divert resources
from established ways of doing things". In part this was because
contracting arrangements with existing suppliers were difficult to
change without incurring large costs.
The report also studied the Treasury's Gateway reviews which were
heralded by Whitehall as providing a tough series of mandatory
checks on incipient IT projects to pre-empt disaster.
The NAO found that of six projects it examined in detail only two
had been subject to Gateway reviews. Those Gateway reviews carried
out found that good practice was not always adhered to.
The full report is available at
www.nao.gov.uk