Industry news

MP report criticises government websites

MPs have revealed that government websites could be vastly improved upon, according to reports.

A report from the Commons' public accounts committee has criticised the government's lack of evolvement, saying its badly-managed websites have barely improved in five years.

It says rapid growth was approached enthusiastically but without any real commitment as little real progress has been made.

Edward Leigh, chairman of the committee, said: "The internet is transforming the way in which government communicates with and provides services to citizens."

"But the government's enthusiastic embrace of this new world of web-delivered services is not matched by a commensurate level of understanding of what it is achieving through its websites, how effective they are or whether they represent value for money," he added.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said the government welcomed the report and was considering its findings carefully.

The report also warned that despite the urgency to increase the government's presence on the web, those who do not have access to the internet may be excluded by this.