Govt 'struggling' with internet
Tuesday, 29 April 2008 12:00 AM
MPs have accused the government of struggling to understand how best to use the internet.
A report from the Commons' public accounts committee says the quality of the government's sprawling websites has barely improved in the last five years and is critical of their management.
It says rapid growth of government websites has been approached enthusiastically but without real progress. A quarter of departments were unable to show how much their websites cost.
"The internet is transforming the way in which government communicates with and provides services to citizens," PAC chairman Edward Leigh commented.
"But the government's enthusiastic embrace of this new world of web-delivered services is not matched by a commensurate level of understanding of what it is achieving through its websites, how effective they are or whether they represent value for money."
The report acknowledges streamlining web services through key websites direct.gov.uk and businesslink.gov.uk is a positive development.
But it says a third of sites do not meet the Cabinet Office's own user accessibility standards.
The report also warns that those looking forward to increasing the government's presence on the web may be forgetting the three-quarters of socially excluded people and half of people on low incomes who do not have access to the web.
"Those gazing towards the sunlit digital uplands must not forget those among our citizens. who have no access to the internet or do not use it," Mr Leigh added.
"They must not be left behind as the government's use of the internet gathers pace."
A Cabinet Office spokesperson said the government welcomed the report and would be considering its findings carefully. A fuller response was pledged after the report's publication.
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