The government is attempting to balance the bad publicity
over its large and troubled IT schemes by publishing a two-volume
report celebrating the public sector's IT successes.
The
Transformational Government report, which runs to 160 pages, is
a documentary tribute to the 50,000 IT professionals who work in
the public sector.
Government CIO John Suffolk says in his foreword to the reports
that without government IT systems "the country would grind to a
halt". He thanks the IT specialists who have supported government
work with "brilliance, passion and pride".
The reports highlight IT achievement in all the main parts of
government.
- The number of self-assessment tax returns filed online by the
deadline of 31 January 2009 was a record - up by more than 50% on
2008. There were many fewer complaints about the service than in
previous years.
- Customer service in the Department for Work and Pensions has
improved, with 100% availability of the main 25 IT systems in
August 2008, and 7,000 IT system updates delivered since January
2008.
- The report praises the Department for Transport, whose systems
allowed 13 million motorists to renew their car tax online or
complete a Statutory Off Road Notification. Nearly three million
driving tests were booked online.
- Work on IT for the police, Crown Prosecution Service, on ID
Cards and on the NHS's
National Programme for IT is also praised.
Suffolk said there must be "even more focus on driving value
out of the investments we make will be paramount".
He added: "To make progress we must re-use, not re-invent. We
must invest where we can create value for all, not for one. We must
engage with citizens, as we cannot second-guess the needs of those
who use our services. We must collaborate and join up services
across the many and varied boundaries, as we cannot operate in
isolation."
Transformational Government reports - Cabinet Office website
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