www e-envoy gov uk Interoperability Standards for e-Government

www. e-envoy. gov. uk Interoperability Standards for e-Government in UK John Borras Director Technology Policy

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

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

the service delivery challenge

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

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

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

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

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 Gov. Talk website

e-GIF - Interconnectivity • Specifications for systems interconnection – HTTP, E-mail, Directory, Domain Naming, File Transfer, LAN/WAN, Security • Policy for migrating to IPv 6 • Policy on future use of Web Based Services – SOAP, UDDI, WSDL

e-GIF - Data Integration • Specifications for data integration – XML compliance with W 3 C Recommendations – XML, XML Schemas, XSL, UML, UTF-8, XML Signatures • Data Standards • Policy for future use of Xforms based e-services

Adopting XML Schemas for e-Service delivery Two alternatives: • Use international schemas, eg eb. XML, 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 Gov. Talk

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

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

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 • Oe. E running ad-hoc working groups to study maturity, market take-up, international adoption, etc

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

UK Gov. Talk 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

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

e-GIF – the International Dimension • European e-GIF – Project underway to support pan-European services – Oe. E representing UK – Using UK e-GIF as basis • Oe. E working with major standards bodies, eg BSI, OASIS, W 3 C – chair OASIS e-Government Technical Committee – chair OASIS Election & Voter Services Technical Committee

www. e-envoy. gov. uk OASIS e-Government Technical Committee Overview & Progress

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

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

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

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.

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!

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

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

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