Councils 'to meet online target'

Local authorities are on course to meet the target for making all public services available online.

The latest report on implementing electronic government showed that all councils are on track to make the switch to electronic systems.

Local authorities increased services available online from 26 per cent in March 2002 to 77 per cent in March of this year.

By the end of next month, councils forecast that 93 per cent of all services will be available electronically.

Local e-government minister Jim Fitzpatrick said better use of new technology was already making an essential contribution towards the government's efficiency targets.

In nearly 200 councils citizens can now go online to submit planning applications or calculate their benefits entitlement, he said.

And near universal online coverage is now offered by councils in England for renewing library books, accessing public transport information and viewing council reports and committee minutes.

Security

The announcement came on the same day as new funding was announced to improve security in online services.

An IT project aimed at improving security for online transactions between public organisations will receive £7.5m of funding, Fitzpatrick announced.

The 'government connect' programme will be developed and rolled-out over 2005/06 said the minister.

Electronic service delivery by both central and local government should be made more effective under the scheme.

It focuses on supporting "personalised, joined-up, citizen-based services" to help improve community life.

"'Government connect' can become the catalyst for removing two major barriers to e-enabled government, firstly for citizens a single sign-on to government services and secondly, the ability to share data securely between local and central government in support of service delivery," explained Fitzpatrick.

Since its launch in March, he said, "good progress" has been made with 276 local authorities already registered.

"The programme aims to roll out services to up to 250 local authorities by December 2006 and all local authorities by December 2007," the minister added.