Government IT stuck in post-election limbo
Kable
Published: 09 May 2005 16:50 BST
Whitehall is now busy adjusting itself to the post-election reshuffle, which promises to offer new leadership for public sector IT programmes.
Ministerial responsibility for key areas such as the eGovernment Unit, the NHS IT programme, local e-government and ID cards is yet to be finalised, with Tony Blair due to complete his reshuffle with a series of junior appointments on 9 May, 2005.
New health secretary Patricia Hewitt will have overall control of Connecting for Health, as the NHS National Programme for IT is now known, while a junior minister will be appointed to have day-to-day responsibility. Hewitt is widely recognised as having a good grasp of the IT sector, serving previously as e-commerce minister and working for Andersen Consulting before becoming an MP.
Other departments waiting for ministerial appointments are the Cabinet Office, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Home Office. While David Milliband is the Cabinet level minister for local authorities, the government will have to decide whether he will have direct control of the local e-government programme or whether it will lie with a junior minister as in the past.
The Home Office is waiting for a minister responsible for piloting the ID cards legislation following Des Browne's promotion to Treasury chief secretary. Browne, who takes over from Paul Boateng, will oversee the implementation of the Gershon Efficiency programme.
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