All of Wales sign up for Looking Local

The Welsh Assembly has taken the timely and innovative decision to offer local government and partner services across the whole of Wales via Looking Local, coinciding with their analogue switch-off. From April 1st, all 22 authorities across Wales will offer a range of interactive services to their residents, all of whom will by then 'be digital', soon after the Welsh Assembly will launch a consultation site.

This is a great opportunity for the Welsh Assembly and local authorities to use this new and ubiquitous technology to reach people, at a time when their awareness of digital TV and the options it offers is at its height. The Welsh approach is to offer a consistent set of content and services across the new sites to give people a common experience. All the services will link in to the ever popular Jobcentre Plus, Transport Direct and other national partnerships Looking Local has.

The Welsh Assembly Social Justice Minister Carl Sargeant recently visited Wrexham - a long standing Looking Local partner -, to understand the benefits it brings them and to see the service in action. He said:

"This means that digitally excluded people who don't have access to the internet at home will now be able to access services similar to those available on the web. Looking Local is an excellent example of innovative ways of working which allow people to engage with service providers more efficiently and councils to plan their services appropriately."

Carl Sargeant, Social Justice Minister and David Stansfield, Looking Local.