Information Security News: Bill Gates claims to be cutting British red tape

[InfoSec News <isn () C4I ORG>]

http://www.theage.com.au/breaking/0103/28/A32521-2001Mar28.shtml

Source: AFP|Published: Wednesday March 28, 10:10 AM

SEATTLE - Bill Gates today said Microsoft was wiring Britain to
revolutionise the way citizens and businesses interact with
government.

The Microsoft chairman said the company had given the British on-line
access to government information and transactions.

"I find the e-government area one of the most exciting parts of what
the digital future brings," Gates said.

With Andrew Pinder, the e-envoy sent by British Prime Minister Tony
Blair, at his side, Gates described the Government Gateway Project,
designed to connect hundreds of national and local government
institutions in Britain with the country's 60 million citizens and
three million businesses.

Increased efficiencies, the elimination of paper forms and the
creation of secure on-line transactions for such government functions
as taxation, licensing and information are the goals for the project.

"My personal goal is to have 100 per cent of government transactions
on-line by 2005," said Pinder.

"This will enable governments to improve efficiency, cut costs and be
more responsive to citizen's needs," said Gates.

Britain is one of the most thoroughly wired nations in the world, with
about 57 per cent of the public and 98 per cent of businesses having
access to the Internet.

Gates made the announcement at a conference his company has organised
to tell more than 400 government officials from 80 nations more about
e-government.

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