A report examined the use of information technology in government. The 'centre' of government needed more clout to ensure that departments standardized their use and procurement of IT. However, the centre's interventions needed to be selective, allowing departments freedom to innovate and use technology to achieve benefits in their areas, while insisting on standardization where the evidence was compelling.
Source: Michael Hallsworth, Gareth Nellis and Mike Brass, Installing New Drivers: How to improve government's use of IT, Institute for Government
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Dec
An article (in a new journal) examined the role of the internet in policy-making, and the impact of internet-enabled social change on government policy tools. It highlighted a number of values normally associated with the internet – innovation, trust, openness, and equity – that might be expected to emerge in policy trends.
Source: Helen Margetts, 'The internet and public policy', Policy and Internet, Volume 1 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2009-Dec
A report by a committee of MPs examined issues relating to digital inclusion in Wales, and the actions being taken to promote greater digital and social inclusion. There was no evidence that digital exclusion was significantly greater or different in nature in Wales compared with the rest of the United Kingdom: but some of the challenges involved were particularly acute in Wales, and there was a need for a 'Digital Wales' plan alongside the plan for the UK as a whole.
Source: Digital Inclusion in Wales, Thirteenth Report (Session 2008-09), HC 305, House of Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | WAG press release
Date: 2009-Aug
A report by a committee of MPs said that the government was keeping scientists at 'arm's length' and treating science as 'a peripheral policy concern'.
Source: Putting Science and Engineering at the Heart of Government Policy, Eighth Report (Session 2008-09), HC 168, House of Commons Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Royal Society press release | BBC report
Date: 2009-Jul
A think-tank report said that the government should abandon expensive and failing centralized information technology projects, and yield control of personal information to individual citizens. The potential benefits included estimated savings on government IT expenditure of 50 per cent; more flexibility; better public services; greater security and privacy over data; and far less intrusion by the state into the everyday lives of its citizens.
Source: Liam Maxwell, It's Ours: Why we, not government, must own our data, Centre for Policy Studies (020 7222 4488)
Links: Report | CPS press release
Date: 2009-Jun
A report (by an official advisory body) made a series of recommendations designed to ensure an effective and sustainable communications future for rural England. 42 per cent of the rural population in England were struggling on broadband speeds below 2 megabits per second.
Source: Mind the Gap: Digital England – A rural perspective, Commission for Rural Communities/Countryside Agency (020 7340 2900)
Links: Report | CRC press release | Telegraph report | RSN Online report
Date: 2009-Jun
A think-tank report said that universities should use technology to offer more flexible provision, and to open more equal routes to higher education and learning.
Source: Peter Bradwell, The Edgeless University: Why higher education must embrace technology, Demos, available from Central Books (020 8986 5488)
Links: Report | Summary | UUK press release | THES report
Date: 2009-Jun
The broadcasting regulator published research into measures that would encourage industry to develop communications equipment, products, and services that better met the needs of older and disabled people.
Source: Jonathan Freeman and Jane Lessiter, Exploring How Manufacturers, Suppliers and Retailers Address the Needs of Older and Disabled People: What are the barriers and drivers?, Office of Communications (020 7981 3000)
Links: Report | Ofcom press release
Date: 2009-Jun
The government published a White Paper setting out an action plan for the digital economy. It said that communications infrastructure and increased digital participation were key to building a 21st century knowledge economy. It promised universal access to broadband services by 2012, and the creation of a fund for investment in the next generation of 'superfast' broadband (funded by a levy on fixed telephone lines). It also set out a three-year national plan to improve digital participation. Some of the money raised through the BBC licence fee to fund the transition to digital television (which had not been spent) would be used to help fund regional news on ITV (non-public television).
Source: Digital Britain: Final report, Cm 7650, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, TSO (0870 600 5522) and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Links: White Paper | Hansard | DCMS/DBIS press release | Consultation responses | Directgov press release | CRC press release | Scottish Government press release | NIACE press release | NESTA press release | Consumer Focus press release | Action for Children press release | RNID press release | TUC press release | CBI press release | BCC press release | Conservative Party press release | Telegraph report (1) | Telegraph report (2) | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2) | RSN Online report
Date: 2009-Jun
An article examined the concept of the 'digital divide' and its relation to social exclusion, focusing on the implications for social work and social care.
Source: Jan Steyaert and Nick Gould, 'Social work and the changing face of the digital divide', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 39 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2009-Jun
A report published by the consumer rights watchdog said that broadband was quickly becoming an essential tool for modern life: but there was an 'enormous risk' that its benefits would not be available to everyone who wanted to use it.
Source: George and Lennard Associates, The Digital Divide: Universal service and broadband, Consumer Focus (020 7799 7900)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-May
A report said that an investment programme in digital networks could create and retain 700,000 jobs, and would also improve the general quality of life and the environment.
Source: Jonathan Liebenau, Robert Atkinson, Patrik Karrberg, Daniel Castro and Stephen Ezell, The UK's Digital Road to Recovery, LSE Enterprise (020 7955 7128) and Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Apr
The government published a summary of responses to consultation on a framework for achieving greater digital inclusion and for championing the best use of technology to tackle ongoing social inequalities.
Source: Delivering Digital Inclusion Summary of Consultation Responses, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Apr
A report said that increasing commercial pressure, mainly driven by the digital revolution, was undermining the business models that paid for the news (apart from BBC news, which was funded by the licence fee). This would weaken some media organizations, 'hollow out' the craft of journalism, and adversely affect the quality and availability of independent factual journalism.
Source: Andrew Currah, What's Happening to Our News: An investigation into the likely impact of the digital revolution on the economics of news publishing in the UK, Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust ((01904 625744))
Date: 2009-Mar
A survey found that 42 per cent of those interviewed claimed to have looked for information online about a government or local council service, or used online services to (for example) pay their road tax or claim child tax credits. Among people who had the internet at home, the percentage rose to 55 per cent. However, in areas of multiple deprivation the number of people who had accessed similar online services fell to just 15 per cent.
Source: Citizens' Digital Participation, Office of Communications (020 7981 3000)
Links: Report | Summary | Ofcom press release
Date: 2009-Mar
A report compared Britain with other countries in its adoption and use of the internet. Most people had integrated the internet into their everyday life and work, complementing interpersonal communication and other media. In several important respects, Britons had became fuller participants in the network society than many others, such as in using the internet more often for a wider range of activities.
Source: Ellen Helsper, William Dutton and Monica Gerber, To Be a Network Society: A cross-national perspective on the internet in Britain, Research Report 17, Oxford Internet Institute/University of Oxford (01865 287210)
Links: Report
Date: 2009-Jan
The government published an interim plan (by Lord Carter) designed to secure Britain's place at the forefront of the global digital economy. The plan contained more than 20 recommendations, including specific proposals on: 'next generation' networks; universal access to broadband; and enhancing the digital delivery of public services.
Source: Digital Britain: The Interim Report, Cm 7548, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform /Department for Culture, Media and Sport, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Plan | DBERR press release | CBI press release | Help the Aged press release | CRC press release | LSE press release | Guardian report | Telegraph report | FT report | BBC report
Date: 2009-Jan