Directgov: Difference between revisions

| name = Directgov

| logo = [[File:Directgov logo.png|140px|Directgov logo]]

| logocaption =

| screenshot = [[File:Directgov website.png|300px]]

| collapsible = yes

| collapsetext = Screenshot

| caption =

| commercial = No

| type = Government information

| registration = No

| language = English and Welsh

|content licensecontent_license = [[Crown copyright]] <br>

|author owner = [[DepartmentsGovernment of the United Kingdom|HM Government|UK government departments]]

|retired date launch_date = {{EndStart date and age|20122004|1004|1701|df=yes/no}}

Directgov was launched in April 2004, replacing the [[Ukonline]] portal. Rather than just providing links to government departments as UK onlineUKonline had done, Directgov carried its own material, designed around users’users' needs. The first three sections were for motorists, disabled people and parents.<ref name="Cross">[httphttps://www.guardiantheguardian.co.ukcom/technology/2004/mar/04/internet.egovernment Direct to your destination] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307163655/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2004/mar/04/internet.egovernment |date=7 March 2016 }} Michael Cross; guardian.co.uk. 4 March 2004</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3522649.stm "Big changes for government site"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061027234256/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3522649.stm |date=27 October 2006 }} BBC News; 1 March 2004</ref>

SinceBy 2004,2006 the site hashad grownover fromten 300,000million visits aper month to over ten million, and involvesinvolved 18 government departments.<ref name="transformational2006">[http://www.cio.gov.uk/transformational_government/annual_report2006/index.asp "Transformational Government 2006: Enabled by Technology"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328094914/http://www.cio.gov.uk/transformational_government/annual_report2006/index.asp |date=2009-03-28 }} Chief Information Officer Council, January 2007</ref> DirectgovKids was launched in March 2007.

In April 2006, Directgov moved from the [[e-Government Unit]] (eGU) within the [[Cabinet Office]] to become part of the [[Central Office of Information]] (COI), an [[executive agency]] of the Cabinet Office.<ref>[http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/newsroom/news_releases/2006/060327_coidirectgov.asp Directgov move to COI] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061114063124/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/newsroom/news_releases/2006/060327_coidirectgov.asp |date=2006-11-14 }} Cabinet Office, 27 March 2006</ref>

As part of the [[Transformational Government]] strategy, an annual report was published in January 2007 stating that hundreds of government websites would be shut down "to make access to information easier" for people. In future, most government information willwould be streamlined through two main "supersites" – either Directgov (for citizens) or [[Business Link|Businesslink.gov.uk]] (for businesses).<ref name="transformational2006"/> It was reported at the launch of the strategy that of 951 websites, only 26 would definitely stay, 551 would definitely close and hundreds more arewere expected to follow.<ref name=close_551/><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6252929.stm The doomed government websites] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224174102/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6252929.stm |date=24 February 2009 }} BBC News, 11 January 2007</ref> About £9 million a year was expected to be saved over three years by cutting back on sites that dodid not serve a useful purpose.<ref name=close_551>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6247703.stm Government to close 551 websites] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219131006/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6247703.stm |date=19 February 2007 }} BBC News, 11 January 2007</ref> However it emerged shortly afterwards that this was misleading, as a large proportion of the "blacklisted" sites had no plans for closure.

On 1 April 2008, Directgov moved again, from the COI to the [[Department for Work and Pensions]] (DWP), in a [[machinery of government]] change.<ref>[http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,,2153214,00.html Interview:Jayne Nickalls, chief executive of Directgov] Michael name="Cross; [[The Guardian]]. 22 August" 2007</ref>

By the end of the fourth quarter of 2009 Directgov reported traffic statistics of circa 20 million hits a month of whichfrom over 8 million are unique users.<ref>[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121015000000/http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/SiteInformation/DG_10036216 Directgov Site Information]</ref>

A national TV and radio advertising campaign was launched on the 4in January 2010 featuring a number of celebrities including [[Suggs (singer)|Suggs]], [[Honor Blackman]] and [[Kelly Brook]].<ref>{{cite news |url=httphttps://www.guardiantheguardian.co.ukcom/media/2009/dec/31/suggs-directgov-campaign |title=Suggs fronts Directgov campaign |author=Mark Sweney |date=31 December 2009 |publisherwork=The Guardian |accessdateaccess-date=13 January 2012 |archive-date=10 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110231152/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/dec/31/suggs-directgov-campaign |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 20 July 2010, Directgov was moved back to the Cabinet Office from the [[Department offor Work and Pensions]].<ref>[http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/newsroom/news_releases/2010/100720-directgov.aspx "Directgov joins the Cabinet Office efficiency drive"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120801092753/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/newsroom/news_releases/2010/100720-directgov.aspx |date=2012-08-01 }} Cabinet Office, 20 July 2010</ref> On 1 April 2011 Directgov became part of the [[Government Digital Service]], overseen by the Public Expenditure Executive (Efficiency & Reform) which iswas co-chaired by Minister for the Cabinet Office, [[Francis Maude]] and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, [[Danny Alexander]].

On 13 September 2012, through a notice on the Directgov homepage, it was announced that the [[GOV.UK]] project, built by the [[Government Digital Service]], willwould replace Directgov as the primary website of the UK Governmentgovernment on 17 October 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.computerworlduk.com/news/public-sector/3381052/govuk-set-replace-directgov-on-17-october/ |title=GOV.UK set to replace Directgov on 17 October |publisher=ComputerworldUK |access-date=13 September 2012 |archive-date=14 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914195438/http://www.computerworlduk.com/news/public-sector/3381052/govuk-set-replace-directgov-on-17-october/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Directgov portal was closed and redirected to the new website from that date. Services provided by Directgov were not fully replaced for a number of years: for example, in 2018 the [[Universal Jobmatch]] service<ref>{{Cite web|title=Universal Jobmatch, archived on 11 March 2018|url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20180311225326/https://jobsearch.direct.gov.uk/register.aspx?redirect=http%3a%2f%2fjobsearch.direct.gov.uk%2fhome.aspx|url-status=live|access-date=18 November 2021|website=jobsearch.direct.gov.uk|via=National Archives|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112122506/https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20180311225326/https://jobsearch.direct.gov.uk/register.aspx?redirect=http://jobsearch.direct.gov.uk/home.aspx |archive-date=12 November 2021 }}</ref> and the [[blue badge]] application form<ref>{{Cite web|title=Apply for a Blue Badge|url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20181221122726/https://bluebadge.direct.gov.uk/bluebadge/|url-status=live|access-date=18 November 2021|website=bluebadge.direct.gov.uk|via=National Archives|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118191418/https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20181221122726/https://bluebadge.direct.gov.uk/bluebadge/ |archive-date=18 November 2021 }}</ref> were still provided from direct.gov.uk webpages.

Over time, access to online government transactions and public services werewas added to the site. The site linked to a number of online transactions and forms such as applying for a [[passport]], buying a [[television licence]], car licensing, registering to vote, and completing a [[Tax return (United Kingdom)|Self Assessment]] tax return form.

In a strategic partnership with [[HM Treasury]] and the [[BBC]], Directgov has twice hosted the [[Budget Day]] documents<ref>{{cite web|url=http://direct.gov.uk/budget |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121206162022/http://direct.gov.uk/budget |titleurl-status=Budgetdead |archive-date=6 December 2012 |title=Budget |publisher=Directgov |accessdateaccess-date=27 August 2010 }}</ref> in March 2010 and June 2010. On [[Budget Day]] Directgov also provided real time updates from the Chancellor's speech on Twitter with the account @Directgov and using a custom Twitter [[Web widget|widget]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://innovate-apps.direct.gov.uk/widgets/twitter/ |title=Directgov Twitter Widget |authorpublisher=Directgov |access-date=27 |work=August 2010 |publisherarchive-url=Directgovhttps://web.archive.org/web/20100620210915/http://innovate-apps.direct.gov.uk/widgets/twitter/ |accessdatearchive-date=2720 AugustJune 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This strategic partnership was extended to cover the [[Comprehensive Spending Review]] on 20 October 2010. Citizen facing content for the spending review is to be found at http://www.direct.gov.uk/spendingreview which hosts the full documents.

A separate website branded as DirectgovKids was designed to help children aged 5 to 11 find out about the world around them, by exploring the places and people in their local community. The [[Adobe Flash Player|Flash]] animated site iswas based around a cartoon globe, with interactive buildings including a police station, a town hall and a school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2186457/uk-government-launches-site |title=Directgov launches site for young citizens |author=Ian Williams |date=26 March 2007 |publisher=VNuNet.com |accessdateurl-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013075020/http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2186457/uk-government-launches-site |archive-date=2008-10-13 }}</ref>

Directgov was also available through analogue [[teletext]] pages as well as [[interactive television|digital interactive television]] on [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] channel 106 until 1 July 2010, [[Sky (UK & Ireland)|Sky]] until 22 December 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2010/12/08/directgov-shuts-sky-interactive-service/|title=Directgov shuts Sky interactive service|publisher=Broadband TV News|date=8 December 2010|access-date=23 December 2010|archive-date=13 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213073533/http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2010/12/08/directgov-shuts-sky-interactive-service/|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Virgin Media]] until 31 March 2011.

Directgov also provided a service that covered country -wide customised maps for Blue[[blue Badgebadge]] Holders with different base colours reflecting councils policies on Blue Badge Holder's parking.holders, In addition to council policies, this service also would pin pointpinpoint the location of different features specific to the disabled community.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bluebadge.direct.gov.uk |title=Blue Badge |date= |publisher=Directgov |accessdateaccess-date=28 August 2010 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418200845/http://bluebadge.direct.gov.uk/? |archivedatearchive-date=April 18, 2010 }}</ref>

Directgov was active on [[Twitter]],<ref>{{cite web |url=httphttps://twitter.com/directgov |title=Get short, timely messages from Directgov |date= |publisher=Twitter |accessdateaccess-date=27 August 2010 |archive-date=9 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809081813/http://twitter.com/Directgov |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Facebook]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://facebook.com/directgov |title=This is the official Facebook page for Directgov |date= |publisher=Facebook |accessdateaccess-date=7 January 2011 |archive-date=25 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125164625/http://www.facebook.com//Directgov |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[YouTube]].<ref>{{cite web |url=httphttps://www.youtube.com/directgovuk |title= Like Sign In or Sign Up now! GCSE results 2010 - advice on sixth form, A levels, NVQ, BTEC, diplomas, apprenticeships and jobs |date=24 August 2010 |publisher=YouTube |accessdateaccess-date=27 August 2010 |archive-date=10 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110130908/http://www.youtube.com/directgovuk |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2010 Directgov launched a "Comment on this Article" feature on each page allowing users to give articles one of five ratings ranging from "Very useful" to "Not at all useful". Users could also leave comments of up to 500 characters about how a page could be improved, but were asked not to include any [[personally identifiable information]]. Directgov collected the data from the comments feature for use in customer insight and product improvement, aand published an overview of monthly ratings online.

In 2005, several internet activists affiliated with [[mySociety]] wrote Directionlessgov.com to demonstrate that they could build something better in under an hour, by using a simple web page that linked to the [[Google]] search engine. Directionlessgov was later upgraded to compare the results of Directgov’sDirectgov's own search engine with the Google results side by side. In discussion, one of the authors wrote:

{{quote|To me the [point we are] making is not that direct.gov should be licensing Google's search... it is that direct.gov should not exist at all - in practice everybody types what they want to do into Google. With the budget saved... instead optimise text and titles on government websites i.e. do some Search Engine Optimisation. Run user tests to find the terms that people search for when wanting to do things that government can help them with. Arrange that Google, [[Yahoo!]] and [[MSN]] searches for those terms take them to the correct site.<ref>[http://www.diverdiver.com/2005/11/directionlessgov-rides-again.html Directionless.gov rides again] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614150902/http://www.diverdiver.com/2005/11/directionlessgov-rides-again.html |date=14 June 2006 }} e-Government@large, 24 November 2005</ref>}}

In an interview with ''The Guardian'' newspaper in August 2007, the Chief Executive of Directgov, Jayne Nickalls, responded:

{{quote|Directionless does work a lot of the time. But it misses the point that Directgov joins up information for the citizen in a way that they understand. If you do a Google search you will get the information from a number of places and the citizen has to do the linking up for themself.<ref>[http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,,2153214,00.html Interview:Jayne Nickalls, chief executive of Directgov] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070828063838/http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,,2153214,00.html |date=28 August 2007 }} Michael Cross; The Guardian. 22 August 2007</ref>}}

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