Whitehall is looking to mobile phones and greater data sharing to tackle the problem of social exclusion.
A report published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Social Exclusion Unit (SEU), is challenging the traditional view that technology will widen inequality.
A previous evidence report produced by the SEU showed that disadvantaged people are the least likely to make use of the new electronic channels, reinforcing the perception that technology equates to exclusion.
The mobile phone is seen as key weapon in the fight. Clair Tyler, head of the Social Exclusion Unit was "struck" by the high proportion of the UK population that have a mobile phone. She believes that encouraging access to public services through mobile phones can provide a launch pad to promote the take up of electronic services through other new media channels, as well as increase the use of content for web-enabled handsets as their use becomes more ubiquitous.
Innovative schemes using mobile phones were highlighted by the SEU including the use of text messaging to truants and the results of sexual health test to patients and health services such as NHS Direct.
Data sharing was also highlighted by the SEU as a key issue. Across Government the barriers to data sharing must be addressed including legal uncertainty, privacy concerns and technical barriers cultural leadership and partnership issues. The hope is that this will allow early intervention to prevent the problems that the socially excluded face spiralling out of control.
To facilitate the further development of data sharing the Government is looking to establish a third sector body to address cultural issues and establish trust between the different partners sharing data. The SEU has recommended a communications strategy to the government to emphasise the benefits of data sharing to both the public and those working in the public services. Strategic leadership locally is seen as key to building a sense of value in the sharing process.
Speaking at the launch Mr. Fitzpatrick said: "This report highlights the government's commitment to ensuring that the benefits of e-government reach every citizen, and especially those who are most excluded. The report is very timely as it complements the very successful work of the ODPM's e-Government programme, which has just delivered e-government to every local authority in England. It also complements the e-Government Unit's work, who are launching their 'Transformation Strategy' tomorrow.
"We all need to learn from the SEU report how socially excluded and isolated people are already using ICT and build on this to continue to narrow the divide. This report sets out, the many ways in which central, local government and public services are also bringing the benefit of ICT to excluded groups. The government is committed to ensuring that the e-government agenda should be delivered to meet the needs of every citizen, including and especially the most excluded groups, and not simply be focused on the e-literate or those able to afford PCs and broadband at home."
This report is the second in the SEU's 'Improving Services, Improving Lives' series which sets out to make sure that reformed public services work better for the people who need them most. The 'Inclusion Through Innovation' report demonstrates that ICT is a critical part of this process of reform if we are to ensure that the most vulnerable benefit equally from the digital revolution in the 21st century.
Quelle: eGov monitor, 02.11.2005
