Despite moves by the public sector to offer e-citizen services, public sector employees are reticent about conducting Government transactions on-line. Only 14 per cent are actually prepared to make electronic transactions such as bill payments or claims for child support. In contrast 97 per cent of public sector employees stated that they already use commercial sector on-line services for transactions such as banking or purchasing of goods. This divide between the take up of public and private sector online services is a key finding of research published by LogicaCMG.Sara Nicholls, Sales and Marketing Director, Public Sector, LogicaCMG. said: “Increasing confidence in Government on-line services will be key in increasing take-up of core e-citizen services, both those that are transaction based, such as paying council tax, and non-transaction based services, such as filling in tax forms.”
Councils are to be rewarded for boosting economic development in their area. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and Chancellor Gordon Brown have launched a consultation paper setting out the broad details of the scheme, which is due to start in April 2005.Councils that currently boost development increase their costs and do not get any reward. There are direct costs in terms of congestion on local transport and impact on the environment. Potentially, development also imposes costs on other local authority services including housing, education and community safety. In contrast, the benefits of economic growth accrue either to individuals, through more and better employment, or, in tax terms, at a national level.
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By Allyson Pollock and David Price.This briefing on the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill was prepared by the Public Health Policy Unit at UCL and has been sent to MPs in advance of the Commons vote. The authors describe how the Bill turns NHS hospitals into businesses without properly safeguarding the public. They say: “A comprehensive and universal care system aiming for equity through planning is being replaced by a market system of fragmented and competing providers. This will result in greater inequality with access to hospitals on the basis of ability to pay, and where the level and quality of provision will depend on the wealth and resources of local communities.” It is argued that if the Bill is passed it will mark the end of Bevan’s great vision for the NHS, because the creation of Foundation Trusts will compound inequalities in access to healthcare.