G21 Compliance with Government Interoperability Framework (e-GIF), including the Government Metadata Standard (e-GMS) Head of Web Services provide citizens and businesses with better access to government services allow information to flow seamlessly across the public sector aligns government with the rest of industry serves as a basis for reducing the costs and risks associated with carrying out major IT projects

To fulfil the requirements of this outcome all councils need to comply with the guidance on compliance in the e-GIF, currently version 6 http://www.govtalk.gov.uk/documents/e-gif-v6-0.doc section 6. The following is provided as a summary only.

At the highest level, complying with the e-GIF means:

providing a browser interface for access
using XML as the primary means for data integration
using Internet and World Wide Web standards
using metadata for content management.

Equivalent standards and additional interfaces are permissible.

Compliant systems:

must support the coherent exchange of information and services between systems.
must maintain the functionality of the system should any component or product used within an interface be replaced with another of a similar specification.
must not contravene any of the policies and specifications listed in the e-GIF

The aspects of the system where the tests need to be applied are:

interconnection
data integration
e-services access
content management metadata.

By April 2006:

Systems are expected to use agreed XML schemas and agreed data standards listed in the Government Data Standards Catalogue, both available on GovTalk.
All new systems (that interface to external customers or connection to external systems) will provide interfaces that conform to the specifications, or equivalents, in the e-GIF by default.
Legacy systems (that interface to external customers or connection to external systems) will need to provide interfaces that comply with the specifications or equivalents as required to meet Electronic Service Delivery targets or to link to UK Online,
For other legacy systems the interfaces should be provided on demand or through replacement.

This outcome will apply to all councils.

all systems interfacing to external customers accessible through a browser using XML as the primary means for data integration using Internet and World Wide Web standards using metadata for content management A B C D E F G H I J K L M