Is ‘e-government’ really working?

How well is the Government’s much vaunted electronic revolution doing? Is it really bringing public services to people via new communications channels like the Internet? These will be among the issues explored with the Government’s new e-envoy, Andrew Pinder, at two events hosted by the University of Teesside this Friday 15 March, 2002.

The first sees the launch of a £30,000 research project for the highly respected Joseph Rowntree Foundation. This takes place from 9am to 1pm and will examine the introduction of Electronic Service Delivery in areas like housing and social care. The venue is the Centuria Building, Victoria Road, Middlesbrough.

At 2pm, Mr Pinder - who reports directly to the Prime Minister and drives the Government’s UK online strategy - will officially open the latest UK Online Centre in a converted classroom in the former Education Offices on Woodlands Road, Middlesbrough. The building is now known as Education House and is home to the University’s Community Informatics Research and Applications Unit (CIRA).

The media are welcome to attend both these events. A photo-call will take place in Education House, Woodlands Road at 2pm on Friday 15 March.

The day will be brought to a close when leading figures from the region, including Bob Balmer from Government Office North East; MEP Barbara O’Toole; Olwyn Hocking, the BBC’s Head of Regional and Local Programmes and Maitland Hyslop, Head of IT Strategy at ONE NorthEast, join local community representatives and the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Derek Fraser, for speeches officially launching the CIRA UK Online Centre. This takes place back in the Centuria Building between 3-5pm.

Brian Loader, Director of CIRA, says: “There is no doubt that the Government sincerely believes in bringing services to the people via the web and other forms of Information Communications Technology. Millions of pounds have be spent on so-called e-government initiatives. But to date there is little in the way of a systematic review of how well community informatics is being used to deliver public services.

“This is where we step in - and thanks to support from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, we will be carrying out detailed research with colleagues from York and elsewhere and compare the experience in the UK with that of the United States, where they have been involved with e-government for much longer.

“We will also be opening our new UK Online Centre, which will offer taster sessions and support to residents in Middlesbrough Town Centre, who want to get on-line but may need help in the form of using a computer in our community classroom.”

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