IT-led transformation of public services has only just
begun, according to the government.
With a general election looming, ministers have been busy setting
out their vision of the future and the challenges they face.
Last Friday Tony Blair was set to launch the government's Digital
Britain strategy at a meeting with the leaders of the UK's largest
suppliers, although his place was taken at the last minute by
e-government minister Phil Hope.
The Digital Britain strategy followed an unprecedented video
message delivered by the prime minister earlier this year to the
new super-group of public sector chief information officers,
telling them IT is central to plans to boost services and cut the
cost of government.
The Digital Britain strategy emphasises the need to move beyond the
2005 e-government targets to put services online to a fundamental
transformation of public services through IT.
Key to this will be overcoming the digital divide in the UK and
ensuring local authorities continue to invest in the IT systems
needed to facilitate change.
The prime minister made the central role of IT explicit in his
video to the CIO council, which was made at the request of the
government's chief information officer Ian Watmore.
Blair said, "I challenge you, the leaders of the IT profession, to
ensure we have technology to support the business transformation of
government itself. It is only in that way we can provide modern,
more efficient public services. You can help us transform public
services in three ways.
"First, the people of this country demand we provide public
services online and over the phone that are as good as anything
they receive from the private sector.
"Second, is to help us deliver services which are efficient to run,
secure, and protect privacy and confidentiality. Technology is
central to our efficiency reform agendas as we reduce the cost of
government across the board.
"Finally, the pace of technology can seem extraordinary in the
changes it brings about. I am looking to you as leaders in the
profession to build teams of experts to keep up with and harness
this change. You have to be capable not only of introducing these
systems without disruption but also of working effectively with IT
companies."
Blair added, "The pace of reform is increasing all the time. We are
more dependent than ever on technology for our success and
protection as a nation. The role of IT professionals in government
therefore has never been more important."
The CIO council comprises about 30 top IT professionals from
central and local government, including Richard Granger, director
general of NHS IT.
Introducing part of the video at the HC2005 conference in Harrogate
last month, Watmore said the prime minister "understands we need to
press on and implement more IT-enabled change, not slow down and
retreat into our bunker because we have a few high-profile problem
projects".
The video proved motivating for members of the COI council, who
want to be "seen as people making a difference in the public
services of this country, doing some of the most challenging things
done with IT on the planet and doing them successfully", Watmore
added.
£10m e-gov prize
The government is to establish a £10m prize for a local authority
that outlines the best IT-enabled business change programme across
local public sector services.
Authorities will be invited to bid for the prize and the top 12
will be awarded £100,000 each to develop their plans. The winners
will be announced in December 2006.