John Borras Director Technology Policy

1. Interoperability Standards for e-Government in UK John Borras Director Technology Policy

2. Our e-Gov vision (04/2000) • We are in the middle of an Information revolution which is changing the way we work and live • The UK to be at the forefront of the new global knowledge economy – this is vital for our future prosperity • We must ensure that everyone in our society benefits from the new technology and economy • But we need to change the way we think and operate

3. Prime Minister e-Minister in Cabinet Patricia Hewitt e-Government Minister Douglas Alexander e-Envoy Andrew Pinder Supported by the e-Champions Network across government e- Government Leadership

4. the service delivery challenge

5. The Target • Deliver all government services online by 2005 with key servicesachieving high levels of use • Over 66% of our services are now on line • So what’s the problem?

6. We still have some major challenges • Risk of non delivery • Risk of non use • Risk of excessive cost • Identity and Authentication • Data Sharing

7. e-Government service delivery infrastructure Users Multiple Access Channels DTV Mobile Call Centre PC Local Authorities Departmental Systems Other Public sector Systems Citizen &Businesses Standards (e-GIF) Secure and trusted environment Channels Government portal www.directgov.gov.uk Portals Private Sector Portals Local Authority Portals Central Infrastructure Government Gateway GSI Government Systems

8. Standards - Why e-GIF? Joined-up Government needs Joined-up Information Systems • e-GIF sets out the government’s policy and standards for interoperability across the public sector • Focuses on 5 aspects: • Interconnectivity • Data integration • Access • Content management • Business Domains

9. e-GIF – Headline Decisions • Adopts Internet and World Wide Web Standards for all public sector systems • Adopts XML as the key standard for data interchange • Makes the Browser the key interface for access and manipulation of all information • Assign Metadata to government information • Adopts open, international standards that are well supported by the market • Internet based Implementation Strategy through UK GovTalk website

10. e-GIF - Interconnectivity • Specifications for systems interconnection • HTTP, E-mail, Directory, Domain Naming, File Transfer, LAN/WAN, Security • Policy for migrating to IPv6 • Policy on future use of Web Based Services • SOAP, UDDI, WSDL

11. e-GIF - Data Integration • Specifications for data integration • XML compliance with W3C Recommendations • XML, XML Schemas, XSL, UML, UTF-8, XML Signatures • Data Standards • Policy for future use of Xforms for forms based e-services

12. Adopting XML Schemas for e-Service delivery Two alternatives: • Use international schemas, eg ebXML, XBRL, where appropriate. • Those adopted are listed in e-GIF • Write own schemas for specific government services, eg tax return filing, passport applications • Using data standard fragments • Those we’ve written are available on GovTalk

14. e-GIF - Content Management • Specifications for content management • e-GMS, GCL, Data Standards, XML Schemas • e-GMS based on Dublin Core with additional elements to support government information • Records management • Data Protection Act requirements • Freedom of Information requirements • e-Services

15. e-GIF - Information Access • Specifications for information access • HTML, document types, presentation types, spreadsheet types, UNICODE, Graphics, Scripting, Audio, Animation, • Specs vary for each channel device • DTV, PCs, Mobiles, PDAs • Specifications for smart cards

16. e-GIF - Business Domains • Specifications for business domains of government • finance, procurement, HR, voting, legal, learning, • Specs are at various stages of maturity • e-GIF adoption indicated under “Status” heading in table 10 • OeE running ad-hoc working groups to study maturity, market take-up, international adoption, etc

17. e-GIF - Implementation • e-GIF is mandated for all UK Public Sector Systems • e-GIF Compliance Assessment Service • Operated by NCC on behalf of OeE • e-GIF Skills Accreditation • NCC setting up new Accreditation Authority

18. UK GovTalk Provides • Interoperability and Metadata Standards • XML Schemas • Government Data Standards • Government Category List • e-Service Development Framework • Change Control Procedures • Discussion Forum • RFC and RFP on a global business • Other ICT frameworks www.govtalk.gov.uk

19. e-GIF Governance Industry Consultation Group (Industry & Government) e-Government Programme Board Interoperability Working Group Metadata Working Group Gov’t Processes Working Group Gov’t Schemas Working Group Smart Cards Working Group

20. e-GIF – the International Dimension • European e-GIF • Project underway to support pan-European services • OeE representing UK • Using UK e-GIF as basis • OeE working with major standards bodies, eg BSI, OASIS, W3C • chair OASIS e-Government Technical Committee • chair OASIS Election & Voter Services Technical Committee

21. OASIS e-GovernmentTechnical Committee Overview & Progress

22. Committee Membership • Approx 150 to date • Many Governments and their agencies • UK, USA, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Malaysia, Korea, Australia, New Zealand • ICT suppliers – small and large • Members of other OASIS TCs and other Standards Bodies • Individuals

23. Deliverables • Recommended standards for delivery of e-Government Services • Either existing standards, or enhancements of existing ones, or new ones, • Best Practice, Case Studies • Pilots • Specifications for support tools

24. e-Government : benefits of using Open Standards • More choice of products and suppliers • Less dependency on a single supplier • Avoid proprietary lock-in • Stability or reduction in costs • Accommodate future changes more easily

25. e-Government TC : Who will benefit? • Governments planning to deliver electronic services using Internet technology. • Governments planning to develop inter-agency and/or inter-government transactions. • Governments seeking to ensure the interoperability of current and future computer systems. • Governments ensuring the standards are not just developed for the benefit of the private sector. • ICT suppliers to government should be able to contain their development costs because of standardization. • Citizens and businesses will benefit from a more coherent delivery of government services both within and across national boundaries.

26. Asia/Pacific Branch • Workshop yesterday to organise TC sub-committee for Asia/Pacific • Ensure participation from this region • Share your best practice • Address your priorities • Please join!

27. UK e-Gov - Next Steps • Develop Enterprise Architecture for whole of government • Set standards for Back Office systems and infrastructure • Ensure interoperability between back and front office • Define future data architecture for government • Develop shared service centres and self service facilities

28. Summary • UK’s e-government strategy is about harnessing the information revolution to improve the lives of our citizens and the performance of UK’s economy • Delivering e-government, building the knowledge economy and delivering pervasive access is going to require pervasive technologies – that’s the Internet and XML • The delivery requires the involvement of, acceptance by and partnership with the public and private sectors, in the development and implementation of the e-GIF

29. Thank You john.borras@e-envoy.gsi gov.uk www.govtalk.gov.uk