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THE TOPIC FOR OUR Internet survey in this issue is the United Kingdom government. Much has been made by both ministers and press in this country of the need to 'get online'. The present government came into office with the intention of stimulating this revolution both in business, for individuals and among its own services. Recently the Prime Minister updated this aim 'I want the UK to be the world's leading Internet economy. Businesses and individuals across Britain are responding to this challenge, getting the UK online' Mr. Blair said in March. 'I am determined that Government should play its part, so I am bringing forward our target for getting all Government services online, from 2008 to 2005. This will mean that people and businesses will be able to access Government services 24 hours a day, seven days a week'. Ian McCartney, the Minister with responsibility for E-Government added 'We have been making good progress. Already, we offer online advice in areas such as health, overseas travel and consumer protection'.
With these pronouncements in mind the European Review took its web browser to the open government site which was instituted since the last election. This is a 'portico' site which 'provides a first entry point to UK public sector information on the internet' and seems to be run by the CCTA which is part of the Central Office of Information. The links on its home page include 'What's new' which leads to a long list of links to documents issued by departments sorted into date order such as 'The Office of Fair Trading is requesting comments on the proposed acquisition by British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC of an interest in Manchester City PLC', and 'The Provision of New Drains and Sewers in England and Wales (Consultation Paper)'. The 'Organisation index' is possibly more useful as it takes the user to a huge number of hyperlinks to all kinds of public sector bodies ranging from 'Aberdeen City Council -Education Department' to 'YouthNet -The Site'.
Next we take our mouse to the 10 Downing Street site. There has been quite a lot of publicity about these pages because of some of the frank comments posted in the chat room but they also contain less controversial material. There are many links on the home page including 'What services should Government provide via the Internet?' and 'Broadcasts' which leads to a page with links to Prime Minister's question times in audio and video while PM statements made specifically for the web are in sound only. If you want to find your way round the railway maze you could start with the web page of the Office of the Rail Regulator which provides hyperlinks to 'Publications and Press Releases', 'Periodic Review of Track Access Charges' and 'West Coast Main Line' among others. The last mentioned gives an insight into the arguments between the office and Railtrack as it tries to upgrade the line for Virgin's new trains.
Finally we must mention the Cabinet Office whose home page contains various icons of small black figures gesturing on yellow platforms which are links to pages such as 'Issues across government', 'the government machine' and 'Public sector standards'.
Web pages mentioned in the above article include the following:
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Open government portico site: |
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10 Downing Street web site: |
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Broadcasts - Prime Minister's question time & internet broadcasts: |
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Home page of the office of the rail regulator: |
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Cabinet Office home page: |
THE LECTURERS TRADE UNION NATFHE are believed to be the first British union to have conducted a vote on industrial action by e-mail. Late last year a document was sent over the internet which enabled the full text of the offer from the Universities and Colleges Employers Association to be viewed by about 10,000 members and asked them to return it to either action@NATFHE.org.uk (if they voted for action) or accept@NATFHE.org.uk (if they voted for acceptance). The method is believed to be secure but the union adds 'If you receive this email more than once please only vote once'.
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