§ Mr. LaxtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) which Departments had not produced e-business strategies by the end of October; [138640]
(2) in which disadvantaged communities the Government plan to pilot the costs and benefits of universal broadband access; [138637]
(3) which Government Departments have introduced low cost personal computer leasing schemes for public service employees; and how many public service employees have benefited from these schemes; [138638]
(4) which Government Departments and agencies are not connected to the Government secure internet; [138636]
(5) if the methods for monitoring the achievement of the target of conducting 90 per cent. of low value Government procurement electronically have been agreed;[138641]
719W(6) when the last monthly progress report to the Prime Minister on e-commerce was (a) submitted and (b) published on the e-Envoy website; [138642]
(7) when he will publish his plans to liberalise re-use of Government information by internet content providers. [138741]
§ Ms HewittI would like to thank my hon. Friend for the interest he has shown in key elements of the Government's strategy for the information age. I have been asked to reply as the Minister with overarching responsibility for that strategy, which the e-Envoy and I published in the UK Online Annual Report on 11 September.
Yesterday, we published our plan for implementing all the commitments to action in the UK online report. This is on the internet at www.e-envoy.gov.uk/2000/progress/montprog.htm. The e-Envoy and I report monthly to the Prime Minister on progress against these targets. These progress reports areaccessible on the internet at www.e-envoy.gov.uk/2000/progress/progress.htm.
On the specific questions my hon. Friend asks, the position is as follows:
Universal broadband access
The Wired Up Communities initiative will be piloting the impact that providing access to the internet might have on disadvantaged communities. On 11 October the Minister responsible for Learning and Technology, the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment, my hon. Friend the Member for North Swindon (Mr. Wills), announced that the first wired up community will be Kensington, Liverpool. We expect to announce further pilot areas in the new year.
Electronic Government procurement
Departments will monitor their own progress towards the target that
by 2001 90 per cent. of low value goods (by volume) will be purchased electronically.A tool to enable them to measure their progress has been developed and extensively trialled by the Office of Government Commerce. The measurement tool will be distributed to Principal Finance Officers shortly.
Liberalising re-use of Government information
I announced on 6 September our plans to boost the Knowledge Economy by overhauling the way Government information can be acquired and reused by publishing and internet businesses. This announcement was in the context of the Government's Review of the Knowledge Driven Economy as part of the Spending Review 2000. Her Majesty's Stationery Office colleagues are in the process of finalising details of key reforms with Treasury colleagues and are planning to publish these in late November.
Personal computer leasing schemes
We are committed to encouraging low cost leasing schemes in the Public Sector, and are currently auditing existing schemes. Over 27,000 teachers have purchased low cost computers through DfEEs 'Computers for Teachers' programme.
720WPublication of UK online monthly progress reports
The last monthly progress report to the Prime Minister was submitted on 15 November and published on the e-Envoy's website, www.e-envoy.gov.uk, on the same day.
Government Departments and Agencies connected to the Government secure intranet
All sizeable central Government Departments have joined, or are in the process of linking to, the Government secure intranet. Details of those Government Departments which are connected, or planning to connect, will be placed in the Library.
Government Departments' e-business strategies
Most Government Departments have submitted their plans.
Many of the actions we are taking forward relate to matters for which the devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are responsible for setting targets and implementing initiatives. Details of these are included in the UK Online Annual Report.