The SNP and Plaid Cymru have set out their thoughts about digital inclusion, technology and government transparency, e-health and government IT.
The Scottish and Welsh nationalist parties answered a range of questions posed by ZDNet UK for our Tech election 2010 series. The questions were the same as those presented to Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, the Pirates, UKIP and the BNP.
ZDNet UK also approached the two main parties of Northern Ireland — the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin — but neither party responded to our questions. All answers in this article were written before the Digital Economy Act was passed.
The Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) is currently in government in Scotland, while Plaid Cymru is in a coalition with Welsh Labour. In this fifth instalment of our policy series, the parties argue why the tech-savvy Scottish or Welsh citizen should vote for them.
THE SCOTTISH NATIONALIST PARTY (SNP)
Q: What would your party do to promote and strengthen the UK technology industry?
A: The SNP will continue to support the technology industry in Scotland: for example, with our small business bonus, which has eased the tax burden on small startups. The SNP has also argued extensively for a tax break for the computer games industry in the UK to ensure that in areas such as Dundee where the industry is growing, jobs are not lost to other countries with a more competitive tax environment.
We welcome the UK government finally putting forward a consultation on this subject, but are disappointed there is no budget in place for such a tax break this year, and it will be down to continued pressure after the election, which the SNP is committed to providing, to ensure this pledge is followed through on and not merely a pre-election proposal.
What is your long-term strategy for the digital economy?
The SNP in government in Scotland is working with providers to ensure broadband is rolled out across Scotland, including to more rural and less accessible areas at speeds which ensure no one is left without the access they need for personal or business use of the internet. Exchanges across Scotland are being upgraded, and our ambition is to secure low-cost and fast connectivity for companies of all sizes.
We have been a consistent opponent of the Labour government's proposals for ID cards.
We know for many businesses in rural areas, internet access has been both a lifeline and a core party of business innovation. We see digital access and digital inclusion as essential across the economy, and reforms to Scottish education through the Curriculum for Excellence will see our young people develop the critical skills they need for the economy of the future.
What role should technology play in government transparency and interaction with the public?
Technology can be at the core of transparency and interaction. The Scottish Parliament led the way in transparency — for example, by listing all MSPs' expenses online for several years. Similarly, all Freedom
of Information requests are made available online by the government as soon as possible.
Technology offers the ability for direct access to government information and services — often at a lower cost to all involved — and for discussion between government and the people they serve. The Scottish government's National Conversation had a significant online focus with a forum, online response and the opportunity for the public to engage online with ministers.
The Scottish Parliament's e-petitions system is world leading. Legislation passed in March by the Scottish Parliament will lead to the publication of all financial transactions over £25,000 and remuneration over £150,000 with the internet [being] one of the ways in which this information can appear.
However, use of technology should not be to the exclusion of other forms of communication and transparency. It is vital everyone has the ability to access information and government services with or without digital technology. Bridging the digital divide is not simply about ensuring everyone can access and use technology but about accepting that, for some, personal interaction is preferable.
What role should open-source software play in local and national government use, and what would you do to promote its use over that of proprietary software?
In adopting any software, government must have regard to best value, to stability and to security as the primary concerns. While open source can appear cost-free, it requires support which may be made available within a support package if governments adopt proprietary software. Similarly, proprietary software can often be unreliable for large organisations.
The SNP would not expect any local or national government body to operate with a preference for either open-source or proprietary software, but to procure and to use the best software with the best lifetime value for the public money being invested.
How would you balance citizens' online privacy against protecting commercial interests? The cases of Phorm and the Digital Economy Bill's copyright clauses are relevant to this question.
Of primary importance is to ensure a debate on the Digital Economy Bill. This legislation is too important to be passed in the closing hours of a parliament.
It is important in balancing privacy and commercial interests that this is done in negotiation with global partners — rather than face the situation currently proposed by the UK government, where UK laws are established that are not in accordance with laws elsewhere in the world, creating problems for internet users by their global nature.
Copyright issues should also be the subject of wider debate. The SNP believes artists should be properly rewarded for their work and...
