A joined-up breakthrough

The expanded role of the PSX(e) ministerial committee on e-government is a vital foundation stone for joined-up government – and about time too.

For the first time ministers will have a pan-Whitehall view of all major technology programmes – which will help co-ordinate investment, share resources and avoid unnecessary duplication.

The development has certainly been a long time coming. It would be inconceivable for a company board to be in the dark about its transformational IT investments, and the same should be true of government.

Treasury chief secretary and committee chairman Stephen Timms says he does not expect major changes to result from the committee’s new role. And senior officials share his view. But it is to be hoped that they are just being coy.

This week’s revelation that the authentication part of the Government Connects programme is to be absorbed by the existing Government Gateway – rather than creating another, largely identical service – is a breath of fresh air. Too often a combination of ignorance and empire-building makes for unnecessary duplication, and the more that PSX(e) can do to manage developments intelligently, the better.

The committee’s new role is itself an example of joined-up government in practice – albeit of the behind-the-scenes kind. As such, it is the keystone of joined-up citizen-facing services, so arguably should have been established when the concept first started gaining traction in the 1990s.

Only committed political leadership can resolve the tricky governance and budgeting issues that often put the brakes on joined-up working.

The danger is that ministers will lack spirit in the face of the internal resistance, hard choices, and negative headlines so often associated with IT-enabled change.

Stephen Timms’ endorsement of the NHS IT programme indicates at least some appetite for the challenge. The committee must follow its chairman’s lead.