Speaking in Edinburgh at the launch of Scots Connect, Permanent Secretary John Elvidge said: "Scots Connect is an new initiative from the Executive. Working with private sector partners Objective and LogicaCMG the Executive has developed ICT systems which are robust, reliable and ideally suited to the needs of the public sector. We now want public sector agencies to consider if these systems meet their own needs. By adopting these existing systems agencies can avoid costly work on developing their own ICT solutions and achieve significant savings.
"And it can make a significant contribution to delivering the world class public services we - and Ministers - want to see in Scotland.
"Sharing infrastructure and process in areas that are common to all agencies can reduce duplication and free up extra resources for frontline delivery.
"There is a real prize to be won here. Examples in other parts of the UK and overseas, in both the public and private sector where shared services have been employed, have demonstrated that savings of up to 30 per cent can be achieved while improving service delivery at the same time.
"Public agencies in Scotland must now start to look seriously at the support services they need and how they might be shared. The current position is no longer sustainable. The Executive is producing a public sector wide strategy for Shared Support Services which we will be consulting on early next year. The development of solutions in Scotland is still at an early stage but the more people who contribute to the consultation the better the final result will be.
"The systems the Executive has developed, such as a networked desktop package and electronic records and document management, have helped create efficient and agile solutions to the business of government. The Scots Connect programme will enable other public sector agencies to benefit from this work. I urge agencies to consider whether these tried and tested systems might be applicable to their organisations and to consider wider ways in which shared services might achieve savings for both themselves and the public sector as a whole".
The Executive has developed a range of ICT services working with private sector providers Logica and Objective. These business solutions, providing a networked desktop package and electronic records and document management, are now being made available to other public sector agencies through the Scots Connect programme.
Scots Connect services are already being delivered to more than 8,000 public servants across Scotland, over a third of whom are in agencies or NDPBs and include the General Register Office for Scotland, the Scottish Public Pensions Agency and Communities Scotland.
Scots Connect can provide a range of services for both Government Secure Intranet and non-GSI community members; meets recognised best practice standards; and can provide effective support for smaller organisations that can not justify employing ICT staff.
Scots Connect is initially being made available to agencies and NDPBs. A networked ICT product suitable for wider public sector use is under development. This is building on present solutions.
Quelle: Publictechnology, 29.11.2005
