Background

9 Cabinet first endorsed the E-government Strategy on 2 April 2001. It was agreed that I would periodically revise the strategy [CAB Min (01) 10/12 refers]. The first revision was released in December 2001. It focussed most on building solid foundations for our e-government programme - an area where the centre of government has an ongoing lead responsibility.

10 In the context of looking at options for the future funding requirements for e-government, in February 2002 Ministers also agreed that for all e-government initiatives, no matter how funded, agencies must be able to demonstrate that in addition to normal consultation requirements, consultation with SSC over alignment with the E-government Strategy has occurred. Ministers further agreed that for all individual or multi-agency e-government initiatives funded from baseline, new initiative funding or other sources, agencies must be able to demonstrate that each proposed initiative has net benefits (including positive fiscal gains where possible) so that the portfolio of e-government initiatives has net benefits at any time. Agencies seeking new funding must meet usual budget process requirements around priorities; assessment of costs, benefits and risks; and business case development [CAB Min (02) 8/2A refers].

11 This second revision builds on the progress made in foundation building. Ministers should now be seeing widespread e-government activity in agencies as they use these foundations. The revised strategy is designed to maintain the overall context and direction of this activity by building on progress so far, highlighting challenges ahead, and providing the ongoing support from the centre that agencies require if our e-government programme is to be effective.