Wider role for e-commerce minister
14:07 Tuesday 19th June 2001
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,s2089396,00.html
Graeme Wearden ([log in to unmask])
Patricia Hewitt keeps the e-minister title, but new boy Douglas Alexander
will promote e-commerce and universal banking
Douglas Alexander is likely to start his new role as the minister for
e-commerce and competitiveness by pushing
e-transactions and universal banking.
Alexander will have a slightly wider range of duties than his predecessor
Patricia Hewitt, who has been promoted to
secretary of state for trade and industry. As well as being responsible for
e-commerce, communications and information
industries and the Radiocommunications Agency, Alexander will also be in
charge of consumer goods, business and postal
services -- including the Post Office. However, small business -- previously
the responsibility of Hewitt -- will be handled by
under-secretary of State Nigel Griffiths.
Contrary to early reports, Hewitt will retain the title of government
e-minister. This is expected to enable her to take the lead
on technology and Internet matters at cabinet level. Alexander -- based
within the department of trade and industry (DTI) --
will run e-commerce, while Gus McDonald of the cabinet office is still in
charge of e-government. "There are more key
players now, reflecting the wider role that technology is going to play," a
DTI spokeswoman said on Tuesday.
The spokeswoman added that Alexander is currently being briefed on his new
post by DTI officials. When his appointment
was announced last week there were concerns that he knew very little about
technology. Many high-tech firms admitted they
had never heard of Alexander
(http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,s2088807,00.html) -- MP for Paisley South
and previously
a speechwriter for chancellor Gordon Brown -- but other political sources
have told ZDNet
(http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,s2088909,00.html) that he is a
well-respected politician who could have enough influence
within the Labour Party to get things done.
The government announced last month that it is making progress in its
attempts to provide universal banking -- where all UK
citizens who do not have bank accounts would have access to a bank account
at the Post Office. This initiative would let
people carry out e-transactions, and is seen as an important way of
encouraging e-commerce by getting more people to use
new technology.
There are also plans to make government services available online at post
offices by 2003, while the Post Office wants to
expand its role in e-commerce to offer logistics and distribution services
(http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,s2082498,00.html)
for online retailers.
Stephen Byers, the previous trade and industry secretary, recently appointed
Allan Leighton
(http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,s2082939,00.html) to the board of
Consignia -- the new name for the Post Office group.
Leighton is also the chairman of Lastminute.com.
Alexander will also head up the government's work on corporate social
responsibility and social enterprises. His work on
consumer goods and business services is likely to include representing the
jewellery and textiles industries.
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