HC Deb 24 April 2002 vol 384 cc316-7
2. Mr. David Tredinnick (Bosworth)

What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Government's targets for the electronic delivery of Government services. [49344]

The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr. Christopher Leslie)

More than half of the Government services that can be delivered electronically have been, and I expect around three quarters to be e-enabled by the end of this year. We are well on the way to meeting our 100 per cent. target by 2005.

Mr. Tredinnick

Given the enormous improvements that broadband can bring to the distribution of Government services, what actions are the Government taking to speed up that service? What is the Minister doing to make sure that the service is available in the east midlands? Has he received correspondence from the boat builders Savage Marine Lighting in my constituency, which complains that its attempts to export worldwide are severely threatened by the lack of broadband facilities?

Mr. Leslie

It is true that we need to ensure that we are on the cutting edge of broadband availability. I will raise the hon. Gentleman's points with the Department of Trade and Industry, which takes the lead on e-commerce issues. Broadband is a much faster internet service which offers a lot, not only for commercial purposes but for the way in which we deliver services to the public. I will certainly look at the correspondence that he mentions.

Mr. Roy Beggs (East Antrim)

I congratulate the Minister on the Government's achievements in delivering according to the targets set out. Is he confident that sufficient security measures are in place to ensure that there cannot be external interference in the delivery of electronic Government services?

Mr. Leslie

As technology and public services develop, the Government need to ensure that the public can have trust and confidence in new electronic means of delivery and interface. The office of the e-envoy is very concerned about those matters and is looking into them. We need to build up confidence so that security issues can be overcome and people can transact Government business in the same way as they transact commercial business.

Geraint Davies (Croydon, Central)

Does my hon. Friend agree that, although we have made progress on the number of websites offering services, the key issue is one of take-up. Low-income groups, in particular, need internet access in libraries. The take-up issue applies to transactions as well as information. People use the internet to get passports, pay their income tax and get grants, so we are making progress in those areas.

Mr. Leslie

That is right. Not everyone owns a computer so we must ensure that there is wider access, particularly for lower income groups. The UK online programme has been working in that regard, looking at libraries and community centres and making sure that there is free internet access for all those who want it.

There has been a great deal of success so far. My hon. Friend mentioned passports and I can tell him that, to date, more than 16,000 people have applied online for passports, and NHS Direct online has 1 million hits a week. Many services are becoming mainstream with the public's use of the internet.

Michael Fabricant (Lichfield)

Does the Minister still think that the Government are online for their target of 2005 for the provision of all internet services? More to the point, is he aware that some forms are hard to complete in the old-fashioned writing way, such as care allowance forms, which are especially difficult for older people? Will he be able to tell other Departments to simplify their existing forms so that the online forms are also simpler to complete?

Mr. Leslie

The Government calculate that about 521 public services can be enhanced through electronic delivery; that has already been done for 264. We recognise the virtue in releasing much of the regulatory burden—by simplifying many of the forms and so on—but we must make sure that there is access for people who may also have to deal with services face to face. We cannot neglect that. We use technology only where it brings extra added value.