The Scottish Government reports that adoption of its ScotAccount online verification and public sector services platform is strong and that a range of new services are to be added.
ScotAccount, which was launched in February 2023, provides a single sign-on for residents to access online public services in Scotland.
A new Witness Gateway has since been introduced, allowing crime victims and witnesses to access case information online. It was developed in partnership with the Scottish Government and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
A save option has also been added, allowing users to save verified personal information into their ScotAccount. This information can then be used with other public sector services, which Trudy Nicolson, programme director for the Scottish Government’s digital identity programme, said will save time, money and effort for the public sector.
In a blogpost, the Scottish Government said a range of new services will be added to the ScotAccount, including expanding the range of verified personal information that can be saved to it. The posting also reported that they are working with the One Login team at GOV.UK to improve interoperability.
Like One Login, there is also work underway to improve the inclusivity of ways that residents can verify themselves and use ScotAccount.
“We’re also working on offering more inclusive ways for people to verify their identity, particularly for those who do not have biometric documents, who have a limited digital footprint due to age or personal circumstances, or for those who struggle with accessing digital services,” Nicolson said.
To assess how ScotAccount is used for secure communications with the public sector, the Scottish Government is to use the CivTech Challenge entrepreneur events to help “develop a secure two-way channel between public services and people who use them. This aims to reduce the number of letters we send by post, release cost savings and give people faster, more secure and convenient services.”
