9 February 2004

Connecting the Capital

By Valerie Shawcross AM CBE, London e-Envoy

Val Shawcross AM CBE, London e-Envoy

Last month the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, published 'Connecting the capital', a policy statement on information and communication technology (ICT) in London. The statement aimed to cut through the hype surrounding new technology. It focuses on the key questions that continuous technological advancement raises for the capital, and the actions we are taking to make sure ICT benefits all Londoners. As the Mayor's e-envoy I was involved in the production of the statement and feel it is important to set out its main themes.

For at least ten years ICT has been touted as one of the most significant new tools at our disposal that we can use to address a wide range of problems. Commentators and ICT companies have suggested that computers and the Internet are not only revolutionising the way economies work, but that they offer ways to radically transform and improve public services: from improving the health services, raising attainment in schools or helping to look after older people at home. At the same time policy makers have begun worrying about the 'digital divide'. However the whole topic of ICT has been subject to more hype and exaggeration than almost any other public policy theme and is in danger of being considered a panacea for all problems with public service delivery.

While transport infrastructure, housing, schools and other public services understandably take priority when it comes to funding choices; London also requires continuous investment in its communications infrastructure. This infrastructure is vital if London's businesses are to remain globally competitive. Londoners and London's business also need the right kind of support and training to allow them to make best use of the new technologies. The London Development Agency is leading a programme of work to address these issues.

ICT by itself will never make more than a marginal contribution to tackling deep-seated social and economic inequalities

The take-up of new technologies, especially home Internet access, varies widely by income. Home Internet access has become an unremarkable fact of life for London's middle classes. Nearly 90 per cent have the Internet at home, with a good proportion using broadband. But amongst the capital's many low-income households getting online remains an expensive and unnecessary luxury. Studies of the 'digital divide' in London indicate that new technologies offer tangible benefits to low-income groups; and that not being 'online' adds to a sense of isolation from mainstream society. The evidence suggests there are reasons to integrate ICT activity within broader work tackling poverty and social exclusion, but also that ICT by itself will never make more than a marginal contribution to tackling deep-seated social and economic inequalities

It is vital that we continue to monitor this situation. LondonConnects have been tasked with ensuring our eGovernment plans for the city are founded on a clear understanding of the 'digital divide'. Additionally the Mayor has asked Government to address widespread concerns about the future funding of public access centres, especially the UK Online centres, a new public service that has been warmly welcomed by users.

Another main theme of the recent policy statement is the further development of eGovernment. It places concerns with the application of new technologies to improve public services firmly within the broader context of my overall vision and objectives for London. The Government's view that the public sector must never forget that ICT is only a tool is to be supported. New technology can help us deliver better services more efficiently but equally, mis-applied, it may get in the way or even exacerbate existing problems.

Several commentators have pointed to the central London congestion charging scheme as a major 'eGovernment' success. Of course praise is always welcome but the Mayor and his team have never seen congestion charging as an eGovernment initiative, it is a public service innovation that tackles the problem of traffic congestion. When planning started for its implementation of course we wanted the contractors to make use of the most appropriate and up-to-date technology. Making payments by mobile phone has become by far the most popular option and congestion charging could not have been implemented without modern technologies. But use of the technology is a tool for delivery not an end in itself.

To deliver eGovernment in London, using technology to improve the quality and efficiency of public services, it is essential that different aspects of the public sector work together. That is why the Mayor established LondonConnects, in partnership with the London boroughs, as a city-wide eGovernment body. LondonConnects leads on strategic projects, shares good practice, and, crucially, implements successful developments.

The national eGovernment project sometimes struggles to deliver in the face of myriad public bodies: local authorities, health authorities, police authorities, and large central government departments all attempting to do the same thing simultaneously. It makes sense to find a good robust technical solution - for example we are developing a system to track vulnerable children in temporary accommodation across London - and to share it across all 33 London boroughs. Establishing good practice makes it easier to drive up common standards and avoid huge cost duplications for the public sector.

For eGovernment, London at the metropolitan level offers a practical scale on which to manage the enormous task the Prime Minister has set us. In London we have put in place the partnership structure to speed up implementation. We now need central Government to take the next natural step: to build on the formal devolution of powers to the GLA and empower us at the regional level to make our own funding decisions to enable us to tackle the challenges that lie ahead more effectively.

Valerie Shawcross is the Greater London Assembly member for Lambeth & Southwark (elected May 2000). Valerie is also Chair of the London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority, and has held that responsibility since July 2000. She serves on the Mayor's Advisory Cabinet and acts for the Mayor as London's E-envoy. She chairs London Connects - London's eGovernment Partnership

Valerie came to the GLA with a local government background. She was elected to Croydon Council in 1994 and became Leader in 1997, after serving as Chair of Education and Deputy Leader. Before Croydon, in 1993 she worked as National Women's Officer for the Labour Party.

In her professional career she worked in further and higher education at ILEA, was a development project manager for the Commonwealth Secretariat and headed up the Public Affairs work at the National Federation of Women's Institutes. Her interests stem from her professional and political experience and include education, women's issues, training and skills and economic regeneration. She was awarded a CBE for services to local government in 2002.