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2018.10.09
5 Deputy R. Labey of the Chief Minister regarding the implementation of the People's
Directory: [OQ.137/2018]
Will the Chief Minister provide a progress report on implementation of the e-gov project "People's Directory", and advise what prospect there is of the People's Directory being in place within the next 2 years?
Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré (The Chief Minister):
I am always happy not to answer a question if it is going to be diverted to another Minister but unfortunately the clue is in the: "Will the Chief Minister provide ..." It landed on my desk despite my best protestations. Anyway, the answer that the Deputy is looking for is the technical design and build of the People's Directory has been completed. I am informed it will be operational by January as part of the launch that will take place by the end of this year.
- Deputy R. Labey :
The People's Directory was due to go online in 2018. Do we know what the delay was? Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré:
In terms of specifics off the top of my head, no, I do not. What I can say is what I have been told is the technical design and build of the directory has been completed. The legal basis for use, which I suspect may well have been one of the issues, has been determined under G.D.P.R. (General Data Protection Regulation) and now we are into the test phase, which is near completion. On the basis of the information I have been given as a result of the question is that that test phase will be completed shortly and then they can launch it and make it go live. The launch is by the end of the year and it is expected to go live in January.
[10:00]
- Deputy G.P. Southern :
The provision of a names and address directory, now electronified, can the Minister explain how it will be peopled, and why it has taken 5 years to develop such a simple names and address register?
Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré:
The initial population, in terms of the data that is going to populate it, is going to be from the Social Security database. In terms of the time, no, I am not sighted as to why it has taken 5 years to get to the point. Obviously, this is fairly new in our regime. But there have obviously been complexities involved in developing it.
- Connétable D.W. Mezbourian of St. Lawrence :
For the benefit of the listening public, and maybe for some Members in the Assembly, will the Chief Minister remind us of the reasoning behind the People's Directory and how it is going to benefit the general public?
Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré:
Simplistically, one aspect is that it will allow people one place - a one-stop-shop, if you like - digitally to change your name and address. So rather than have to go to different departments and having to do it a variety of times, you go to one place on a website and input your details once.
- The Connétable of St. Lawrence :
And for those people who do not use the internet?
Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré:
Good question, as always from the Connétable of St. Lawrence . Also a question I am in the process of asking and determining. In my view, there should be a position whereby one can take those details to one place - perhaps in relation to a question that is coming up - La Motte Street at the moment, and give that in one place and hope that can be input. I do not know the details and I will come back to the Connétable .
- Deputy S.M. Wickenden of St. Helier :
When I left my last post as the champion for e-gov, we were going to be going live with e-gov in July. Then I heard it is October. Now it seems to be put back to January. Could the Chief Minister please inform who is the current champion that is overseeing this and please give me an update on why the delay is happening, as I would be very interested to know why such a delay?
Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré:
The delay, I cannot add anything else to what I have said already. In terms of e-gov, it is one of the aspects we are dealing with, as the Deputy will be aware. Digital, which is different, has gone to Senator Farnham and that is a separate aspect. The question was whether it went the same or whether it stays as part of the overall transformation programme.
- Deputy R. Labey :
Would the Chief Minister agree that it is really important for the Assembly to start work now on making our next election in 2022 better, fairer, with more people being able to stand, more people being able to vote, and that computer literacy is something we should all be helping our older generation with? Would it not be a good idea for an initiative in the Parishes for Parish Hall s to help the senior members of their Parishes with computer literacy?
Senator J.A.N. Le Fondré:
I am always in favour of improving computer literacy or even language literacy, if we can. But the issue on all of that ... the short answer is yes, there will always be people ... and I can think of members of my family who do not have a computer and feel they are too old to learn. I do not agree with that, I have to say. But there will always be people one has to cater for who do not have access to computers. How we deal with that is obviously the thing that is going to challenge us for the next few years.