Brown’s digital vision: Super-fast broadband and a webpage for every citizen
- Added:
- Mar 23, 2010
As the Election draws closer, the Prime Minister has pledged universal super-fast broadband for all - coupled with a personal webpage for every UK citizen to manage their government transactions and access local services- in a bid to transform the UK by 2020.
Gordon Brown said his proposals could slash billions from public service costs and create more than 250,000 jobs, adding that funding for the proposals will be announced in Wednesday’s Budget
Brown said: “Super-fast broadband is the electricity of the digital age. And I believe it must be for all - not just for some."
The Prime Minister said that relying on the market to roll out super-fast broadband “would allow the country to become split between a fast-track and a slow-track to the future” and “betrays a total failure to grasp the scale of the educational, economic and social opportunities that it brings”.
“Faster broadband speeds will bring new, cheaper, more personalised and more effective public services to people; it will bring games and entertainment options with new levels of sophistication; it will make accessing goods and services immeasurably easier,” he added.
As part of the pledge, Labour plans to give everyone in the country a personalised webpage for accessing services in a bid to reduce the cost of face-to-face contacts with officials.
The aim is that within a year, everybody in the country should have a personalised website through which they would be able to find out about local services and do business with the Government. A unique identifier will allow citizens to apply for a place for their child at school, book a doctor’s appointment, claim benefits, get a new passport, pay council tax or register a car from their computer at home.
Over the next three years, the secure site will be expanded to allow people to interact with their children’s teachers or ask medical advice from their doctor through a government version of Facebook. Brown will also argue that using text messages to remind people of GP appointments could reduce the £600 million annual cost of missed NHS appointments. Job centres and physical offices dealing with tax, vehicle licensing, passports and housing benefit could be closed within 10 years.
But unions have complained that thousands of public sector workers would be made jobless and personal data put at risk given the State’s poor security record in recent years.
The Tories have also promised to provide universal access to super-fast broadband - using digital switchover cash from the BBC license fee to make up any shortfalls in market-led provision.
However, Labour insists state help will be needed upfront to ensure rural areas do not lose out and has introduced a 50p tax on existing landlines to pay for it.
The Opposition has said it would scrap the levy and Brown warned that risks creating a “lasting, pervasive and damaging new digital divide”.
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