Whether it plans to make use of the Post Office network to promote Executive services.

What matters is identifying the most effective locations for meeting people's needs for access to public services. The Scottish Executive, as part of its 21st Century Government agenda, has developed and supported the delivery of public services through a range of channels including the internet and managed contact centres as well as face to face in offices and one-stop shops. The Executive is also exploring other platforms for information and service delivery, including interactive digital television, smartcards, public kiosks, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and WAP phones. Assisted access to public services remains an important aspect of improving public service delivery and the use of both Citizen's Advice Bureaux and Post Offices are being considered.The Executive's Modernising Government Fund has supported projects in Eddleston Post Office in the Scottish Borders setting up a community PC to allow local people to develop IT skills and access information and in Dumfries and Galloway to test information kiosks in various locations including rural post offices. It has also supported the Digital Highland Project where Highland Council is extending availability of services through a network of one-stop shops across its area and is extending the facility to carry out transactions with government electronically through rural Post Offices.At the same time, as a part of its digital inclusion strategy, the Executive's public internet access point initiative is creating over 1,000 new venues across Scotland where people can have cheap, easy access to the web and all its services
- public, commercial and voluntary sector. Any public venue can apply
- such as shops, pubs, community centres etc. Rural post offices have been actively encouraged to participate in the scheme
- which provides eligible venues with computer hardware, software, and internet connectivity
- all free of charge. The scheme therefore allows rural post offices to provide another valuable service to their customers. Nearly 600 new public internet access points are in operation now including 40 post offices. Potential applicants can obtain details of the scheme by calling 0845-270-1043 or on the web at www.scottishwebaccess.com.