Government to speed up on-line drive

Prime Minister Tony Blair brought forward his deadline of 'getting the UK on-line' to 2005 following a special Information Age Cabinet meeting this morning (March 30).

The Government had previously planned to offer all services online by 2008. But the new announcement was said to have 'marked a commitment by the Prime Minister to speed up Government action'. This comes just a few weeks after he announced that everyone who wants it will have access to the Internet by 2005.

Mr Blair said: "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. 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. It is a challenging target, which will require more joined up working between departments, less reliance on paper trails, and the development of new ways of working. But it is one we have to meet if our UK Online strategy is to succeed."

Cabinet Office Minister, Ian McCartney, who is co-ordinating the Government's 'e-policy' said: "We have been making good progress. But we must speed up the pace of change in Government so that we can offer our businesses and citizens more efficient and effective services. That is why the Cabinet decided to bring forward the target. The Cabinet also agreed our detailed strategy for achieving this, "E-Government", which we shall be publishing on Monday. An important part of this drive will be the new personalised gateway to Government online services - UK Online - which we plan to launch in July."

E-Minister, Patricia Hewitt, who also has responsibility for small businesses said: "I am delighted that the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet have committed the Government to this new target.

"This new e-government drive is a key part of our wider strategy for getting the UK online. Alongside it we are working to get small business online - with the £60 million package for SMEs which the Chancellor announced in the Budget; and to help individuals and communities get online - through the £450 million we are investing in the national network of over 700 UK Online centres we are setting up this year in libraries, schools, shops and even pubs, where individuals will be able to access the Internet and find out about, or receive, training."

The target is that by 2005 all Government services will be available online through personal computer, telephone, or Digital TV.

Government services currently online include:

* Companies House (online returns and searches);

* NHS Direct;

* Foreign Office advice for those travelling abroad;

* Consumer advice; and

* the Number 10 website.

Other services soon to be available online include:

* Tax returns (discount for electronic filing, maximum saving for a small business person is £110);

* Small Business Service, tailored advice based on company size, location and sector;

* Employment Service job vacancies will be online by the autumn (and online kiosks will be sited in jobcentres);

* Vehicle Excise Duty; and

* VAT registration, declarations and other returns to HM Customs.

The Government will be introducing a new monitoring regime as the previous method tended to overstate progress towards the target.