Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude has said that despite “inconsistencies”, the UK is still a “world leader” in digital services.

The comments during a brief to the Cabinet Office come as the UK’s digital strategy becomes a year old since its 2012 launch.

While discussing the UK’s position as a digital leader, Francis Maude pointed out the comparison between the launch of the U.S. Healthcare.gov website and the UK GOV.UK domain.

Mr Maude, said: “We have got international recognition. When the Obamacare website got released to universal criticism it was interesting that quite a lot of the commentary said: why didn’t they do what the British government is doing?” He added, “They did it the old fashioned way. We have gone from crap at this stuff to being recognised as a world leader.”

While the digital strategy has seen wide change within the public sector, the program has been delayed, with the final transition of departments to the GOV.UK domain now being extended from a deadline of March 2014 to July 2014.

Government Digital Services executive director Mike Bracken said: “we should feel more proud of a year that has seen services improved, taxpayer money saved, civil service digital capability boosted and a greater variety of partners and suppliers working with government.”

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