By Graeme Wearden, 28 August 2002 16:03
NEWS Taxpayers' money to the tune of £10bn could be wasted if the government fails to provide online services that the public want to use, a top parliamentary committee warned today. The Public Accounts Committee said government departments must do more than simply provide information on their websites. If e-government is to succeed, the committee warned in a new report, then people must be able to benefit from online services that make their lives better and easier. The government is committed to putting all its services online by the end of 2005, and it currently has 100 major IT projects underway at a cost of £10bn. The committee fears, though, that this money will be wasted if the public do not use online services because they see no benefit in doing so. "Most government services currently available online just provide basic information and advice. More rapid progress now needs to be made to enable people to carry out transactions with government such as applying for a driving licence or claiming benefits," said Edward Leigh, chairman of the Public Accounts committee, in a statement accompanying the report. "There is also a need for better marketing strategies to encourage people to actually use what is available online," Leigh added. To make sure that they provide the right kind of e-services, departments have been advised to work closely with the groups of citizens they are targeting, to try and ensure that their online services are attractive and likely to be used. Even though some online services are available in banks, post offices and Citizen Advice Bureaux, the public accounts committee wants market research to be conducted on the take-up of this option by the elderly and those on low incomes. Graeme Wearden writes for ZDNet.co.uk
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