A committee of MPs said that better information on the take-up of electronic services must be published, and accessibility to online government services improved. (The government has pledged to put all public services which can be transacted electronically online for citizens and businesses by 2005.)
Source: Progress in Achieving Government on the Web, Sixty-sixth Report (Session 2001-02), HC 936, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Dec
Research by a consultancy firm found that fewer than 3 per cent of the population regularly use government websites to access public services. Less than a third of the population have visited even one of the 3,000 government websites. Poor design was blamed in many cases.
Source: Press release 29.12.02, Hedra (01252 719000)
Links: Press release | Independent article
Date: 2002-Dec
A report evaluated e-consultations run on behalf of the United Kingdom parliament, the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Executive.
Source: Stephen Coleman with Nicola Hall and Milica Howell, Hearing Voices: The Experience of Online Public Consultations and Discussions in UK Governance, Hansard Society (020 7955 7459)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Dec
A report on the gender gap in science, engineering and technology made recommendations to improve the recruitment and retention of female engineers and scientists.
Source: Susan Greenfield, Set Fair: A report on women in science, engineering and technology, Department of Trade and Industry (0870 150 2500)
Links: Report (pdf) | DTI press release
Date: 2002-Nov
A think-tank report argued that handing over control of the 'local loop' (between local telephone exchanges and homes) to a not-for-profit company would maximise access to all telecoms service providers and increase network innovation. The project on which the report was based was supported by Cable & Wireless.
Source: James Wilsdon and Daniel Stedman Jones, The Politics of Bandwidth: Network innovation and regulation in broadband Britain, Demos, available from Central Books (020 8986 5488)
Links: Summary | Guardian report
Date: 2002-Nov
The government published the results of a cross-cutting review of science and research, which considered how to maximise the long-term benefits provided by public spending on science and research to the United Kingdom s economy and quality of life.
Source: Cross-Cutting Review of Science and Research: Final Report, HM Treasury (020 7270 4558), Department for Education and Skills, and Department of Trade and Industry
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
Researchers examined public attitudes to, and experiences of, contact with the Department for Work and Pensions, particularly electronic service delivery. Of those with recent contact, 29 per cent found it difficult to obtain information, and 31 per cent found it difficult to make a claim. Over half of the public would be interested in using the internet for some form of contact about benefits.
Source: Nick Coleman, Farid Jeeawody and Jo Wapshott, Electronic Government at the Department for Work and Pensions: Attitudes to electronic methods of conducting benefit business, Research Report 176, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4040)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
A study found most housing associations make relatively little use of the internet to improve services to tenants; this is because of lack of vision, lack of skilled staff and funding, and the need for organisational culture change.
Source: David Wilcox, Making the Net Work for Residents and their Landlords: A Guide to Using Information and Communication Technologies in Housing Associations, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 431213)
Links: JRF Findings 992
Date: 2002-Sep
A committee of MPs warned that groups such as the elderly, unemployed, those on low income and those with learning difficulties, who may not have easy access to the internet, risk being excluded from the benefits of e-government.
Source: Improving Public Services through e-Government, Fifty-fourth Report (Session 2001-02), HC 845, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Aug
A report argued that the government's science strategy will fail unless a hole in the 1.25 billion plan is plugged, and called for regional networks of technology transfer to be developed in the United Kingdom.
Source: Rebecca Harding, Networking Know-How: Technology Transfer and the UK Productivity Gap, Trades Union Congress (020 7467 1294) and Work Foundation
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Aug
The government published a strategy document for science, engineering and technology, following a cross-cutting review.
Source: Investing in Innovation: A Strategy for Science, Engineering and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry (020 7215 5000), HM Treasury and Department for Education and Skills
Links: Report (pdf) | DTI press release
Date: 2002-Jul
The government published a consultation document on ways of using electronic communications to increase democratic participation.
Source: In the Service of Democracy, Office of the e-Envoy/Cabinet Office (020 7276 3208)
Links: Consultation Document (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Jul
Internet access was available to 42 per cent of United Kingdom households in the first quarter of 2002, up from 36 per cent a year earlier.
Source: Internet Access, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Press release (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/1, Digest 121, paragraph 3.9
Date: 2002-Jul
A cross-cutting review of science and research (part of the 2002 Spending Review) considered how to maximise the benefits to the economy and society of public spending on science and research. As a result, the government announced 'the largest sustained growth in spending on science for a decade', with over 1 billion additional spending between 2002-03 and 2005-06.
Source: Opportunity and Security for All: Investing in an Enterprising, Fairer Britain: New Public Spending Plans 2003-2006, White Paper Cm 5570, HM Treasury, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: White Paper | Press release | Hansard
Date: 2002-Jul
A critical review was published of empirical research on children s use of the internet.
Source: Sonia Livingstone, Children's Use of the Internet: Review of the research literature, National Children's Bureau (020 7843 6029)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Jul
A new report examined what technology is available in the Westminster and devolved legislatures of the United Kingdom, and whether elected representatives use it to improve communications with their electorates.
Source: Technology: Enhancing Representative Democracy in the UK?, Hansard Society (020 7955 7459)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 1.1
Date: 2002-Jul
Researchers evaluating online centres (designed to widen access to, and use of, information and communication technologies) found that computer ownership among respondents increased significantly after they attended the centres.
Sources: Hall Aitken Associates, Evaluation of Pioneer and Pathfinder UK Online Centres: Follow-up study, Research Report 362, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260) | Hall Aitken Associates, Evaluation of CMF-Funded UK Online Centres: Initial report, Research Report 368, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report 362 (pdf) | Brief 362 (pdf) | Report 368 (pdf) | Brief 368 (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/4, Digest 120, paragraph 3.9
Date: 2002-Jul
An audit report said the government needs to do more to help local councils develop a convincing picture of successful e-government and to encourage improvement to service quality as well as access.
Source: Message beyond the Medium: Improving Local Government Services through E-Government, Audit Commission (0800 502030)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Jul
A report said the 'chaotic internet' fails young people in their search for civic and political information.
Source: S. Coleman, Digital Jury - The Final Verdict, Hansard Society (020 7955 7459) and Broadcasting Standards Commission
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 10.2)
Date: 2002-Jun
Researchers found a continuing digital divide , with internet and computer use lowest among the poorest social groups.
Source: N. Russell and N. Stafford, Trends in ICT Access and Use, Research Report 358, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 10.2)
Date: 2002-Jun
An article examined the growth in teleworking.
Source: U. Hotopp, 'Teleworking in the United Kingdom', Labour Market Trends, June 2002, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2002-Jun