New online government services will save taxpayers’ money

The Government has unveiled the list of the first wave of public services which it will digitalise by 2015, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, announced today.

The first wave of services to go online includes tax assessment and applications for visas, apprenticeships and pensions.

The new digital programme will give the public quicker and more convenient services and will save taxpayers up to £1.2 billion by 2015 and around £1.7 billion a year thereafter.

Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude said:

“Today we’ve set out exactly how we will make it easier for people to do things like apply for pensions and car tax online. As a result we will save people time, money and stress – while making the taxpayer savings in excess of a billion pounds and setting Britain up as a world leader.”

The new digital services announced today include:

• National Apprenticeship Service – candidates can search for vacancies and apply online. Employers will be able to advertise vacancies and identify candidates
• Tax self-assessment – a new, and for the first time entirely online, service that will make it easier to make tax returns
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks – a more straightforward online applications process for DBS is unveiled to make it easier for people to volunteer
• Intellectual Property – entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes will be able to register, track and manage patents and trade-marks