IN THIS ISSUE:

• Government IT 'requires urgent attention'
• Framework for secure digital public archives
• Council to include small firms in web work
• European eGovernment Action Plan
• British Library ‘Treasures app’
• Councils lagging on spending data
• PITCOM Meeting Report: National security and secret intelligence in the internet age.

NEWS: Government IT ‘Requires Urgent Attention’, Committee Says.

The UK government’s entire approach to IT "requires urgent attention," a spokesperson for the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) told E-Government Bulletin last week as the committee launched an inquiry into the issue....

Read full story here, Government IT policy questioned...

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NEWS: Framework Helps Build Secure Digital Public Archives.

An advisory service helping public sector bodies create secure, long-lasting and usable digital archives has been launched by the National Archives, the agency tasked with safeguarding public information....

Read full story here, Digital Continuity Framework...

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NEWS: Council To Include Small Companies In Web Work. Bristol City Council is to invite smaller companies to bid for specialist development and technical work on its new website, in an attempt to broaden the range of firms it engages.... Read full story here, Bristol reaches out to business community... Back to index

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NEWS IN BRIEF:

Cross-Border Plan: A ‘European eGovernment Action Plan’ has been launched by the European Commission (EC), aiming at optimising conditions for the development of cross-border e-government services for European citizens. The plan supports the commission’s Digital Agenda for Europe, which aims to help 50% of EU citizens to use e-government services by 2015:

Quick link: Cross-Border Plan:

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Mobile Treasures: The British Library has today launched its first smartphone app, allowing users to view a range of valuable items and collections housed in the library, including the first edition of Lewis Caroll’s ‘Alice's Adventures in Wonderland’ and Charles Dickens’ handwritten draft of Nicholas Nickleby. Developed by the British Library in conjunction with Toura, a technology platform for mobile guides, the ‘Treasures app’ enables users to view hundreds of images and video clips, accompanied by commentary and information on the works. The costed app is available on a range of mobile platforms, including the iPhone and Android (£1.19) and iPad (£2.39):

Quick link: Mobile Treasures:

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Data Deadline: Around half of councils in England have yet to publish online details of all spending on items over £500 as requested by central government, with less than a month before the deadline at the end of January. Although councils are not legally obliged to produce the information, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles set the target last year in an attempt to increase transparency within local government:

Quick link: Data Deadline :

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PITCOM Meeting Report: National security and secret intelligence in the internet age. The internet has transformed all parts of society, and the UK’s secret intelligence services are no exception, former GCHQ Director Sir David Pepper KCMG told December’s House of Commons meeting of PITCOM, the Parliamentary IT Committee. Dan Jellinek reports from the meeting, where Sir David discussed discussed the changing face of modern security and intelligence.... Read full story here, The internet and secret intelligence... Back to index