EURIM Working Group on Manifesto Commitments

Introduction and Terms of Reference

Meeting Details, Agendas, Tabled Papers and Minutes

Group Outputs (Papers and Briefings)

Other Relevant Documents & Links

Working Drafts (Restricted Access)

Introduction and Terms of Reference

This working group was formed to identify ICT-related priorities for inclusion in the manifesto commitments of the main political parties and to help those responsible for relevant policy formation in each of the main political parties before the run-up to the 2005 General Election. The group now has the task of ensuring that EURIM material is routinely passed to those with policy responsibility within the parties on an ongoing basis and of opening up opportunities for the informed review of ICT related policy proposals at the earliest possible stage.

Group Objectives

• To digest and prioritise EURIM material for use by the policy teams of the main political parties. 
• To produce summaries of the main policy recommendations on which there is pan-industry agreement tailored to the needs of the parties. 
• To help provide industry inputs and contacts tailored to the needs and priorities of the main parties. 
• To organise activities to bring members and observers together to discuss the practical implementation of those recommendations which are adopted.

Outcomes Sought

• That priority recommendations are adopted by all main parties (with variations to fit party priorities/ideologies tailored by those who are active in the party of their allegiance/choice) with the necessary priority to secure action.
• That policies dependent on the use of ICT products and services are checked for cost and practicality before commitment.
• That members and observers undertake advance preparation on the means of implementing policy commitments to help ensure that they meet their objectives.

Progress to Date

Draft "Points for Your Manifesto" were produced well in advance of the 2004 Party Conference season and several of the main points were addressed in major platform speeches, including by the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer while other material was used in Fringe Meetings for those directly interested in ICT issues.

Several members of the group were then asked to help draft more detailed policy proposals tailored to the needs of specific parties.

The published "Points for your Manifesto" were publicly welcomed by spokesmen for all the main parties and several then used sections of the material in policy papers and speeches. The material on E-Crime and on Personal Identity and Data Sharing were also used by IPPR in its Digital Manifesto after the election. 

Members are being encouraged to work with and through the parties of their choice to ensure that relevant policies have the priority that is necessary to secure commitments to act, not just to debate and consult. 

Meeting Details

The Group conducts most of its business by email interspersed with short order informal briefings to fit with political diaries.  If you are a member of EURIM and you would like to join this group please email admin@eurim.org. 

Group Outputs

Summary List

The priorities identified to date for political attention are:

• Communications Infrastructure: to move debate away from managing the cost of access to the infrastructures of the past towards encouraging investment in those of the future and in the services they will carry.

• Making the Internet Safe, Reliable and Fit for Purpose: Government departments, law enforcement agencies and industry need to co-operate locally, nationally and internationally because e-crime ignores frontiers as well as law enforcement boundaries. That will require a national strategy, the resources for implementation, and frameworks for accountability.

• Regulatory and Fiscal Certainty, Equity and Clarity: regimes that are fair, transparent, predictable and not over-complicated as well as skills at all levels and environments where staff wish to live as well as work. are needed to encourage the industries of the future to grow in the UK

• Encouraging the Creation and Exploitation of Knowledge: by rewarding risk  investment and innovation, as well as invention, with funding or capital allowances.

• Removing the Barriers to Improving Public Services: including the provision of clear and credible routines, including governance and accountability, for collecting, maintaining and sharing (not just protecting) both public and private data.

• Building Confidence in the Delivery of Modernised Government: by ensuring that good practice is followed at all levels, from the top (i.e. policy formation) down as well as from the bottom up.

• Lifelong, Tax Free Learning to Create and Maintain World-Class Workforce Skills: lifelong learning, rather than first entry education, should be at the heart and tax incentives should be used to help move vocational skills provision from centralised planning hierarchies to rapid response to emerging demand.

• Supporting the Third Sector in the Delivery of Public Services: by ending the plethora of special initiatives and devolving funding to locally accountable authorities.