This “state of the nation” review concludes that a small number of pioneer local authorities are at the leading-edge of the e-revolution in the UK public sector, but that local government as a whole is yet to fully exploit the real potential of e-government. The report, which provides the only authoritative assessment currently available of preparations for local e-government in the UK, shows that the majority of authorities will need to move swiftly to emulate these pioneers. Authorities must build on successes found across the country if they are to achieve the transformational change that local e-government requires and meet Government’s target for 100% electronic service delivery by 2005.Published by Improvement and Development Agency at 75 pounds.
Latest figures published by the Cabinet Office confirm that the Civil Service is now reversing its shrinkage during the Conservatives’ time in office.Civil Service staff numbers at October 2000 are shown to have increased by more than 12,000 compared with the previous twelve months.
Indications from the first few days of the new Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are that the new department will try to do much more than patch together the environment portfolio with the duties of the old Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF).The new Secretary of State Margaret Beckett appears to be going for a much more radical approach, in which civil servants and those who worked with predecessor bodies can expect to see a good deal of change.