Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Mobile technology and digital TV can make public services more convenient for all

Customers will be able to access essential public services via mobile technology and interactive digital television, under plans to make government services more accessible and convenient .Launching a major cross–government strategy to use technology more effectively, John Hutton promised a "step change" in approach to ensure the Government starts to make full use of the technological advances that are becoming increasingly common in people's lives – whether at home or on the move.
Government departments today published visions of how services could be made easier within the next decade – including enabling parents to support their child's learning and check attendance online and allowing businesses dealing with regulators to submit information once only.

The Government will produce plans by the end of the financial year on how it intends to take forward the strategy.
Cabinet Office Minister John Hutton said:
"In 1997, fewer than 16% of households had a mobile phone and fewer than one in ten used the internet. Private companies have been swift to shape their services around people's needs and lifestyles – now public services need to raise their game and offer people the levels of convenience, choice and efficiency they rightly demand.
"That is why I am publishing a cross–government strategy today to ensure government uses technology more effectively to deliver better services that are focussed on the needs of the customer." "We will also increase value for money for taxpayers by transforming the way public services join up back office services such as HR, IT and Finance. Through innovative use of technology we can save money and deliver faster and better services for people."

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