An updated version of the UK e-Government Interoperability Framework has been released in draft for public consultation. For the first time the e-Government Metadata Framework has also been incorporated into the e-GIF specification. The Version 4.0 (07-March-2002) release is issued in two parts: Part One presents the e-GIF Framework itself; Part Two documents the Technical Policies and Specifications. The e-Government Interoperability Framework (e-GIF) "sets out the UK government's technical policies and specifications for achieving interoperability and information systems coherence across the public sector. The e-GIF defines the essential prerequisites for joined-up and web enabled government... Adherence to the e-GIF specifications and policies is mandatory: they set the underlying infrastructure, freeing up public sector organisations so that they can concentrate on serving the customer through building value added information and services. he main thrust of the framework is to adopt the Internet and World Wide Web specifications for all government systems. There is a strategic decision to adopt XML and XSL as the core standards for data integration and management of presentational data. This includes the definition and central provision of XML schemas for use throughout the public sector. The e-GIF also adopts specifications that are well supported in the market place. It is a pragmatic strategy that aims to reduce cost and risk for government systems whilst aligning them to the global Internet revolution." The e-GIF Interoperability Framework specifications are open for comment through April 18, 2002.

From the Executive Summary of Part 1:

Better public services tailored to the needs of the citizen and business, as envisaged in the UK online strategy, require the seamless flow of information across government. The e-Government Interoperability Framework (e-GIF) sets out the government's technical policies and specifications for achieving interoperability and information systems coherence across the public sector. The e-GIF defines the essential pre-requisites for joined-up and web enabled government. It is a cornerstone policy in the overall e- Government strategy.

Adherence to the e-GIF specifications and policies is mandatory. They set the underlying infrastructure, freeing up public sector organisations so that they can concentrate on serving the customer through building value added information and services. It will be for the organisations themselves to consider how their business processes can be changed to be more effective by taking advantage of the opportunities provided by increased interoperability.

The main thrust of the framework is to adopt the Internet and World Wide Web specifications for all government systems. There is a strategic decision to adopt XML and XSL as the core standards for data integration and management of presentational data. This includes the definition and central provision of XML schemas for use throughout the public sector. The e-GIF also adopts specifications that are well supported in the market place. It is a pragmatic strategy that aims to reduce cost and risk for government systems whilst aligning them to the global Internet revolution.

The Framework also sets out policies for establishing and implementing metadata across the public sector. The e-Government Metadata Standard will help citizens find government information and resources more easily.

From Part 2: "A primary role of the Interoperability Working Group is to promote the production and management of the XML schemas necessary to support data interoperability requirements of the e-Government strategy. XML schemas will be developed by specialist groups, or by open submission to the GovTalk web. The Government Schemas Group will manage the acceptance, publication, and any subsequent change requests for the schema. XML schemas that have been accepted by the group will be published and are open for anyone to make comments. The Government Schemas Group sets the design rules to be used by the XML schema developers and will use these to validate schemas proposed for publication. The rules include compliance with W3C specifications as described in Part 2. The Government Schemas Group will track international XML specifications development through links with standards organisations such as W3C and OASIS. These links will provide provisional schemas, which will be taken as one of the inputs for government-wide consultation and adoption if appropriate."