§ Angela SmithTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what changes she intends to make to the Modernising Government Action Plan targets for delivery of Government services electronically. [117046]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyIn October 1997, the Prime Minister announced that within five years a member of the public would be able to carry out a quarter of dealings with Government electronically through their telephone, television, or computer. Further, in March 1999, in our Modernising Government White Paper we proposed that all Government services should be available online by 2008.
We have been making good progress. Already, we offer online tax returns and online advice in areas such as health, overseas travel and consumer protection. Businesses can make online returns to Companies House, and soon they will be able to make VAT returns online. Next week the Small Business Service will launch a website offering small and medium businesses tailored advice based on their size, location, and sector.
But we want to increase the pace of change in Government so that we can offer our businesses and citizens more efficient and effective services. I am pleased to announce that the Prime Minister has today decided to bring forward the date by which all Government services should be available online from 2008 to 2005. Also, in line with the outcome agreed at the Lisbon summit, Government Departments will be expected to prioritise their proposals for offering all services online by 2005 so as to ensure online access to main basic public services by 2003.
We are also introducing an improved monitoring regime. Progress towards the target will no longer be based on the number of individual transactions with Departments. Instead we will monitor progress on the basis of the number of services that we deliver online. The monitoring regime for UK based services will as far as possible be aligned with public service agreements and service delivery agreements.