Directgov moves to the Cabinet Office

Government said the move will put energy behind the drive to get more people and public services online

Directgov, the central web site for public services, has moved to the Cabinet Office, were it will form part of the Efficiency and Reform Group.

The site, which was managed by the Department of Work and Pensions until now, will sit in the Government Communications team which is headed by permanent secretary for government communications Matt Tee and overseen by the Efficiency Board, co-chaired by minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude and the chief secretary to the Treasury.

The government argued that this move will put energy behind the drive to get more people and public services online. Martha Lane Fox, UK digital champion, will help to redirect the site as part of her role is to look at how efficiencies can be realised through the online delivery of public services.

Francis Maude said: “Getting more people and public services online is essential if we’re going to cut costs while maintaining standards. This move puts Directgov in a stronger position to implement efficiency savings and provide more information and services that are easier and more accessible for people to use.

“The Efficiency and Reform Group now draws together under one roof procurement, ICT, communications, HR and performance. It is the taxpayers' champion, combining the authority of the Treasury and Cabinet Office, reaching out across the public sector and now going directly to the people we serve through Directgov.”

The site has up to 29 million visits a month, and is the main route for accessing essential online government services and information. People can use Directgov to tax their cars, search for jobs, find out about benefits and much more.