Government websites are failing the people who need them
most, according to a report by local authority IT directors'
organisation the Society of IT Management and the Citizens Advice
Bureau.
The report analysed 26 government and local authority websites,
including those run by the Department for Work and Pensions, UK
Online and the NHS, to assess their ability to provide relevant
information and services in response to typical inquiries on
benefits, health, housing and consumer complaints.
Researchers found information and services on government websites
were "far from reliable".
They also said the ability of the flagship UK Online website to act
as a "signpost" to other e-government services was disappointing.
David Harker, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said, "It is
vital that public service bodies think carefully about how they
design services and how they provide information via the
internet."
A spokeswoman for the Office of the E-Envoy, which is responsible
for co-ordinating public sector efforts to deliver services
electronically, said the government was committed to building
online services around the needs of customers.
"We regularly seek feedback from stakeholders on how best to do
this," she said.