Government
Serious Organised Crime Agency in business
The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) is a new law enforcement agency created to reduce the harm caused to people and communities in the UK by serious organised crime. It takes over the functions of the National Crime Squad (NCS), the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS), the role of HMRC in investigating drug trafficking and […]
OPSI discussion forum
OPSI has added a Discussion Forums area to its website. The first to be set up is “Website Help” which is for discussion of problems, issues and tips on using the OPSI website. They may regret this! Half of the posts so far are from members of the public seeking advice about specific statutory provisions: […]
UK not sold on e-Government?
Kablenet reports that the UK has fallen behind the rest of Europe in usage of e-government services. According to the latest official EU figures: only 31% of individual internet users have accessed information from public authorities – fifth from bottom only 11% of individual internet users have downloaded forms from public authorities – bottom only […]
Charity Commission online services
The Charity Commission site has a new, improved design. It has also just launched its Online Services which enable charities with annual incomes of £250,000 or more to: complete and send Annual Returns view and make changes to contact details make changes to the way the charity is categorised send general correspondence about the charity […]
Directionless government
Researching e-government services, I’ve just come across DirectionlessGov, a cheeky little utility that compares results from a search on DirectGov with results from a Google search for the same term on .gov.uk sites. According to the authors, “Our tests show that DirectionlessGov is much more effective at most common searches than DirectGov.” What they mean […]
Insolvency direct
The Insolvency Service has just launched a new Online Forms Service (using the domain insolvencydirect.gov.uk) which enables you to complete a bankruptcy application online. The service currently caters for the statement of affairs in a debtor’s petition and the preliminary information questionnaire which the official receiver may require once a bankruptcy order has been made.
A single planning application form
The ODPM has launched a consultation on a single online Standard Planning Application form for England and Wales (1 APP). Whatever type of permission is sought, the single application form is completed. The application is built up from various sections depending on answers to questions about the planning proposal. The Planning Portal, which will act […]
HMSO subsumed by OPSI
“With the implementation of the EU Directive on the re-use of Public Sector Information in 2005 it was decided that there was a need for a dedicated body to be the principal focal point for advising on and regulating the operation of public sector information re-use. The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) has been […]
From DTI to DPEI and back
Only days after rebranding the DTI as the Department for Productivity, Energy and Industry as part of his reshuffle, Tony Blair has caved in to universal derision by reverting to Department of Trade and Industry: FT report.
Brand New! HM Revenue and Customs
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is the new department responsible for the business of the former Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise – with a new website, of course. “As a single department, HMRC will have the added benefit of producing greater efficiencies, reducing the tax gap and providing a greater customer focus. HMRC […]
Delivering local e-government
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has developed a national strategy in order to communicate a common vision for local e-government. The ODPM Local e-government site provides the tools with which local authorities can develop and build their own e-strategy. Detailed, web-based resource packs set out proposals, plans and information at a variety […]
Re-use of public sector information: draft regulations
While the Freedom of Information Act is concerned with access to public sector information (PSI), new Regulations will be made concerning its re-use. HMSO has issued a consultation document and draft regulations implementing the EU Directive on Re-use of PSI which must be implemented by member states by 1 July 2005. The deadline for responses […]
e-Government nearly on course
The Cabinet Office Autumn Performance Report states that 96% of government services will be available electronically by the end of 2005, with 75% of these services currently available. Many services are experiencing high annual growth rates: 67% of incorporations are now electronic, up 19% from the previous year. Over 1.1 million Self Assessment tax returns […]
Public sector information – exploiting the intellectual capital
At a meeting on 1 November to celebrate 5 years of free law via BAILII, Richard Susskind outlined current developments regarding re-use of Public Sector Information (PSI). He chairs the Advisory Panel on PSI whose job is to advise the Government so that this asset is protected and exploited and its value is maximised. Central […]
e-Conveyancing plans approved
Land Registry’s latest plans for the development and delivery of its electronic conveyancing services have been approved and endorsed by David Lammy, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Constitutional Affairs. The key proposals are: Land Registry will develop and operate the central e-conveyancing service which will link all participants in a conveyancing transaction, […]
