United kingdom

IDABC eGovernment Factsheets

eGovernment in

September 2006

United Kingdom

eGovernment eGovernment eGovernment eGovernment eGovernment
IDABC
eGovernment Observatory http://ec.europa.eu/idabc/egovo

Country Profile History Strategy Legal Framework Actors Who’s Who Infrastructure Services for Citizens Services for Businesses

European Commission ENTERPRISE AND INDUSTRYDIRECTORATE-GENERAL

What’s Inside

[ IDABC eGovernment Factsheets - United Kingdom ]

Contents:
Country Profile.........................................................................1 eGovernment History................................................................3 eGovernment Strategy.............................................................15 eGovernment LegalFramework...............................................21 eGovernment Actors...............................................................23 eGovernment Who’s Who........................................................27 eGovernment Infrastructure.....................................................30 eGovernment Services for Citizens...........................................32 eGovernment Services forBusinesses.......................................39

Disclaimer: This document is not intended to be exhaustive. Its purpose is to give an overview of the general e-government situation in United Kindom. Although every care has been taken to ensure accuracy, the information herein should be treated as indicative and no responsibility for errors can be taken. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting onits behalf is responsible for the use that could be made of the information provided. © European Communities 2006

[ eGovernment in United Kingdom ] Country Profile
Basic Data and Indicators

September 2006

Basic data.........................................................................................................
Population (1.000): 60.034,5 inhabitants (2005) GDP at marketprices: 179.104.2,7 million Euro (2005) GDP per inhabitant in PPS (Purchasing Power Standards, EU-25=100): 116,8 (2005) GDP growth rate: 1,9% (2005) Inflation rate: 2,1% (2005) Unemployment rate: 4,7% (2005) Government debt/GDP: 42,8% (2005) Public balance (government deficit or surplus/GDP): -3,6% (2005)

Source: Numerical data provided by Eurostat

Area: 242.500 km2 Capital city: London EUOfficial Languages: English Currency: Pound Sterling

Source: Europa Website

Political Structure……………………………
The United Kingdom is the oldest constitutional monarchy in Europe. Legislative power is held by the Parliament, made up of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The House of Commons has 659 members, who are elected by pure majority vote and remain in office for a maximum of 5 years.The House of Lords has 699 members (92 hereditary positions, 545 lifetime positions, 27 Judges of the High Court and 25 Bishops). Laws are approved by a double reading mechanism. The procedure foresees that the House of Lords cannot block approval of the laws indefinitely, but only delay it.

The Head of State is the hereditary Monarch, who has a mostly ceremonial role. Executive power isexercised by the Government, headed by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. The Government is answerable and accountable to the House of Commons. By constitutional convention, Ministers are chosen largely from among Members of Parliament (members of the Commons). The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the largest party in the House of Commons and is commissioned by the monarch to form a governmentbased on his or her ability to command the support of the Commons. The United Kingdom became a member of the European Union on 1 January 1973.

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September 2006 Current Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II (since 1952)

[ eGovernment in United Kingdom ]
Current Head of Government: Prime Minister Tony Blair (since 2 May 1997)

Information Society indicators…………………………………………………………………………...