E-government

E-government

As the world develops and improves new and existing technology, its uses are being applied to more areas throughout both the world and the United Kingdom. The improvements within technology have lead to an improvement within the global infrastructure and today it has been applied the government schemes as well. The advance in technology has been incorporated within internet and has lead rise to the scheme now known as E-government or electronic government.

The scheme and use of E-government has been applied to a wide verity of government service and today is incorporated within almost every sub scheme. The goal is migrate all paper based administration to an online application scheme, in turn this is set to reduce government spending and save 1.3 thousand million pounds over the three years in which the scheme will divert to the new system.

When we talk about the migration of schemes to an online service it is important for us to point out which schemes themselves will be moved from the previous paper based managed ones. The overall migration will include shifting the following schemes and services to online based applications and transaction. They include;

· Crime Justice and Law Online

· Employment Online

· Home and Community Online

· Money Tax and Benefits

· Government, Citizens and Rights

· Education and Learning Online

· Motoring Online

· Environment and Greener Living Online

· Health and Well Being Online

· Travel and Transport Online

The migration of schemes to online can be seen to be successful as there is a wide array of options to be accessed through the www.direct.gov.uk website and there partnering sites, however some sites can be seen to be more successful then others due to there accessibility and range of services on offer within them.

Particular services have advanced and proved to be more popular than others, motoring online is one sub section that has made advances from the previous paper based systems. Divisions within the services and advances have made the whole system more accessible and therefore effective for the public to operate and submit. Areas such as;

· Updating a licence

· Registering a vehicle

· Transfer/ Retention of a DVLA registration

· Tax or apply for refund

· Declaring a vehicle SORN

· Check MOT records

These are just a few of the successful areas within motoring on the direct.gov and partnering sites. The www.direct.gov.uk has a mass of information informing users on almost every aspect of motoring that involves the government or there related policies and schemes. The migration of motoring to an online based informative website has been seen to be a huge success. With it being a website there are of course the notorious benefits, 24hour accessibility range of help files, partnering sites etc. However the www.direct.gov.uk has also incorporated additional features making the overall experience more enjoyable and informative. This can be seen with the example of the root planner, this service shows you how to get to your destination however in the greenest manor in the shortest time, useful for those who are concerned about their carbon footprint and overall effect on the environment.

The verity of services under motoring includes the application and registration of Tax disc, Mot records, DVLA personal registrations, vehicle details enquiry and a driving theory test feature. There are similarly a mass of other options including the previously mentioned root planner, and a map of disabled parking spaces, these are just an example. Throughout we can see that motoring online movement has been a successes and the range of services reflect this and support the governments ideas to migrate more schemes to the online counterparts.

Education and learning, within the www.direct.gov.uk website there is again a verity of options available to the consumer these include;

· Find a course

· Learning and careers advice

· Student loans and grants

· Schools

· Childcare support for your family

All the information found within the Education and learning again leads to partnering sites and increased detailed information throughout. The aspect of schools however is rather extensive and has an assortment of information such as application to primary and secondary school, term dates, holiday schemes and many more. The overall section can be seen as an informative aid to allow users who are unfamiliar with how the system works an informative description on sub topics and what truly appeals to them. Certain sections such as; Help with school transport costs and free school lunches are particularly informative as many more users will access the site for their own personal enquires within these to topics.

Travel and transport online is another section that many apply too for information on mass of topics, the site itself gets regular hits on the passport section as many seek to renew and apply, as travel worldwide increases and the number of English passengers likewise. Other subsections include;

· Travel advice

· Visas for visitors to the UK

· Problems with roads

· Plan a journey to anywhere in Britain

· The Weather

· Parking

· Problems with pavements

· London congestion charge

· Disabled persons railcard

Again we can see there is an array of topics that range through all including crucial information. As the name suggests this topic covers travel both within and outside of the UK and transport within. However with the weather included consumers can be redirected to the external site www.metoffice.gov.uk . Within the subsections links such as payment of a congestion charge and application for appeal or payment on parking fines is also submitted.

This section really is very detailed and includes an array of schemes that would normally have to be submitted with application from the post office, however know payments and inquires can all be submitted online therefore at the ease of a consumer and in their own time. The section of Travel and Transport incorporates the sue of passport renewal however an added feature can be obtained throughout the use of submitting online, the tracking of a passport progress is an additional sector of information that many may find helpful if they are concerned of when there passport is to be returned. This feature can see to be used throughout other policies and similarly allows for tracking off other renewals.

Crime Justice and the Law online, the introduction of this allows for not only clarity of authority but the added information on additional law services such as that of jury service, seeking a legal advisor or contacting a police authority. The migration of the overall scheme has lead to subtopics including;

· Contact the police

· Paying a Court Fine

· Get a jury service reminder

· Get legal advice

· Report suspect activity to MI5

· Sort out consumer complaints

· Report benefit fraud

· Criminal injuries compensation

· Get crime figures for your area

· Join the police force

Law and Crime Justice online have branched out in numerous areas to provide an increased service this can be seen with the ability to pay a court fine online. The accessibility that the government website allows makes it easy for almost anyone to pay a fine or permit, at any time that suits them. This allows for further prosecution to those trying avoiding the law and payment as the means of the website make instant debit credit card payments, due to this there can be no excuses for not being able to submit a fine on time. An additional service Join the police force, is an extensive scheme spreading awareness for the benefits, that working within the police force can bring. The use of this link again redirects the page to partnering sites such as www.policecouldyou.co.uk .

The final service within the www.direct.gov.uk website which I intend to mention is Health and well-being sector. This allows the ability for the consumer to find both local doctors and dentist, get travel health advice and much more. Subcategories include;

· Services from the NHS

· Blood and organ donation

· Help for carers

· Support and residential care in your area

· Health benefits

· Your health abroad

· Healthy living

This subsection has an increased awareness topic; the Blood and Organic donation is a crucial link that allows for a redirection n to yet another partnering government site www.blood.co.uk . Other important topics include information on careers within healthcare that many may refer to for information and inspiration for a future job in care. There is also essential health advice for travelling to foreign countries and includes the crucial injections (jabs) that individuals must receive before entering and leaving the UK.

Overall the E-Government website includes numerous factors that all can use and relate to in order to seek advice help or to fulfil their personal requirements such as inquiry into payment of fines, or obligations against them. The website has a mass of extensive links all redirecting the user to partnering government sites which similarly include more useful informational and insight into topics, such as that in the policecouldyou.co.uk website and metoffice.gov.uk weather.

The sights extensive nature make it a useful reference point for many and allow it to save much time for the consumer, and money for government as the original goal was. Overall I would see the sight as a resounding success and with personal use of it such as tracking my own passport; I can happily say the service was swift, smooth and informative.