Public bodies need help in meeting challenges in developing on line government. This is the advice of a Government and Industry Round Table Seminar on E-commerce.
Financial organisations and structures are seen as major obstacles. Finance departments often fail to understand what is involved and are less than sympathetic. Electronic delivery can reduce costs by nine tenths, but when a parallel traditional service has to be maintained the result is an increased cost. 

Civil Service standards are under the spotlight Public Service Minister Peter Kilfoyle told the conference of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences at Sunningdale. Bringing more people into the Civil Service from outside and increased use of short term contracts and secondments could challenge the standards of ethical behaviour. Impartiality, integrity, honesty and accountability could be undermined. 

By Shona Arora, Anne Davies and Sarah Thompson.
Health Improvement Programmes are designed to ensure that health authorities, primary care groups and local councils work together to identify and act on the underlying causes of avoidable ill health locally. This report produced by the King’s Fund summarises findings from interviews in the London area. The authors found enthusiasm for the initiative and for the opportunity to work together with other organisations.