Technology - Government fails to find an e-minister.
Tony Blair has so far failed to appoint a minister responsible for driving through plans to get the government online following the recent cabinet reshuffle.
The failure to make an appointment, following the transfer of Ian McCartney to the position of minister for pensions several weeks ago, has raised doubts over the government’s ability to meet its self-imposed targets.
In his role as e-government minister McCartney had been responsible for hitting targets for getting services online by 2005.
The responsibility now falls to Christopher Leslie, a former aide to the chancellor, who joined the cabinet office earlier this month, and who represented the UK at an e-government meeting held in Belgium.
But it is unclear whether Leslie will be handed the role.
A spokesman for the Cabinet Office, said: ‘The role will be filled by a minister, but there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of working out ministers’ portfolios and this brief is ongoing.’
The revelation comes weeks after e-envoy Andrew Pinder insisted the government must ‘walk the talk’ when it comes to implementing e-government.
Speaking at the recent GC2001 conference last week, Pinder emphasised the government’s commitment to bringing 100% of its transactions with citizens onto the internet in just three-and-half years’ time.
However, it has since been revealed that fewer than half of UK councils will meet government targets to put their services online by 2005.
Delays hit UK online target www.accountancyage.com/IT/1122241.