MAKING government digital by default should be the priority for the States of Guernsey and Jersey.

Mark Loane, pictured, chief executive officer of pan-island IT consultants C5 Alliance, said that the UK government’s updated digital strategy, which calls for ‘modern, efficient, digital-by-default services’, signalled a future for the islands.

‘Making services such as tax returns, pension and employment claims and other transactional activities like registering a new car or applying for a digital passport could see the States in both islands make significant financial savings,’ he said.

‘[Digital by default] is the future of government, as digital enables a leaner public sector – something that is equally relevant in small islands as it is in larger economies such as the UK.’