Electronic Service Delivery

HC Deb 04 March 1998 vol 307 cc1046-7

9. Mr. Alan Campbell

What representations he has received on the potential use of smartcards to deliver Government services. [30872]

Dr. David Clark

The Government believe that there is a need to use smartcards and commercial smartcard services for electronic Government transactions. Such cards would not function as identity cards. My officials have reported to me on a number of meetings that they have had with representatives from manufacturers and other interested groups on smartcards.

Mr. Campbell

I am grateful for that answer. Is my right hon. Friend aware of the excellent work being done by Siemens in my Tynemouth constituency to develop new smartcard technology? Does he agree that there is great potential for the use of such technology to deliver public services in a cost-effective and user-friendly way?

Dr. Clark

I agree that we can use smartcards to improve services to our citizens. If we can bank 24 hours a day, why cannot Government services be available 24 hours a day? I am aware of the work of Siemens just across the river from my constituency. The Government cannot afford to miss out on a system that has improved customer services in the private sector. It should be applied to Government services as well.

Mr. Hawkins

Does the right hon. Gentleman accept that the smartcard technology developed by Siemens was approved when the cross-party information technology committee saw it in Germany last summer? Will he confirm that the use of smartcard technology can help to cut crime, particularly benefit fraud? That is one reason why many Conservative Members want that technology extended so that one day we shall have proper identity cards to help cut crime.

Dr. Clark

I welcome the hon. Gentleman's general points, but I do not agree with him on identity cards. Smartcards are not identity cards and we do not see them as such. By using smartcards and other cards with magnetic strips, we can improve services to our citizens. That should be the aim of all hon. Members.

10. Mr. Hoyle

What pilot projects are currently under way to develop the technology used in delivering Government services. [30873]

Dr. David Clark

As part of my work on the better government White Paper, I am encouraging IT initiatives in central and local government. We will use technology to cut red tape and make life easier for businesses and citizens. We are making imaginative use of touch screens and electronic forms to get rid of the notion that government is just about queuing and filling in forms.

Mr. Hoyle

I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. Does he agree that there should be closer links between central and local government using IT? Such links would benefit the people of Chorley.

Dr. Clark

My hon. Friend is correct. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has established a joint working group between central and local government, which is trying to work out ways of co-ordinating services to our citizens. The use of IT and one-stop shops throughout the country can bring Government services closer to our citizens, making life more comfortable for them. Information technology is the key. [Interruption.]

Madam Speaker

Order. The House must come to order. It is far too noisy. It is all right agreeing with what is said, but let us have quieter conversations.

Mr. Ian Taylor

I am pleased that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is carrying on the good work of the previous Government on IT. Has he extended the work that we were doing? Is he still getting support from industry for his efforts? Has the central information technology unit been able to advance any further ideas on how to distribute kiosks and other centres so that the public have easy access to them?

Dr. Clark

We are trying to develop the use information technology through various approaches. That will result in a better end product than the route followed in the United States, which has largely used the internet.

By using a mixture of touch screens and the internet, we will be able to provide IT that is not only very friendly to our citizens but will revolutionise their lives.