Re: UKNM: The Government Internet Tzar

[Marcus Austin]

Been talking to the damn DTI press office all week and they're impossible 

to deal with. Made Yes minister sound positively helpful. The line is Tony 

Blair has said that "the announcement will be made in due course", and 

that's all they're willing to give away. The appointment was delayed 

because of the little war we just had. Before the war the line was "there 

are two prospective appointees and Tony will be deciding  asap" According 

to the DTI person I spoke to in March, the announcement has to be made in 

the house of commons first, and as they're due for summer recess quite soon 

it looks like it may not happen until after the summer.


marcus


At 11:24 01/07/99 , you wrote:

> > Remember a few months back, well towards the end of last year the 

> Government

> > talked about appointing a special Internet Tzar for e-commerce and other

> > Internet issues.

> >

> > This person was supposed to start in April, but the question is have they

> > actually appointed this person?

>

>Leslie - Monday's FT reported that the Govt is expected to appoint the

>UKs first "digital envoy" shortly - possibly as early as next week (see

>below) ...

>

>If you are thinking of going for it yourself, there may still be time.

>Check out the JD here:

>http://www.dti.gov.uk/e-envoy/

>

>* * * * * * * * *

>

>NATIONAL NEWS: Government set to appoint first digital envoy

>Financial Times ; 28-Jun-1999

>

>The government is expected shortly to announce the appointment of the

>UK's first "digital envoy", who will be charged with fostering the

>development of the electronic commerce sector.

>

>Proposals to create the post, which is modelled on the role carved out

>in the US by Ira Magaziner, President Clinton's special representative

>on electronic commerce, were unveiled by Peter Mandelson in late

>November, when he was still trade and industry secretary.

>

>The job was advertised and attracted more than 90 applicants. However,

>the calibre of aspirants was not as high as the government had hoped. It

>proved difficult to persuade senior information technology executives to

>relinquish highly-paid jobs in a fast-growing industry to take up an

>ill-defined public sector role.

>

>Earlier this year, the government is understood to have considered

>offering the post to David Svendsen, former managing director of the UK

>arm of Microsoft, the world's largest computer software company.

>

>That idea was abandoned when officials realised how unpopular the

>appointment would be within the IT industry, where the powerful

>Microsoft group is nicknamed the "evil empire".

>

>There were also informal discussions about the possibility of Mr

>Mandelson taking the post, following his resignation from the cabinet

>last December. Mr Mandelson would be a popular choice within the IT

>sector, where he made a impression as a champion of e-commerce during

>his short stint at the Department of Trade and Industry. However, it is

>understood that the idea was swiftly dropped, as Mr Mandelson's next

>official role would be likely to be more senior.

>

>With no suitable candidates in sight for the envoyship, the government

>has had to rethink its approach. An article in the latest issue of

>E-Commerce Law & Policy, the specialist newsletter, suggests that

>officials considered creating the position of digital minister,

>upgrading the post from envoy status.

>

>However, the government is understood to have decided to against

>appointing a politician. It is in the final stage of redefining the

>role, in the hope of announcing the appointment, probably as early as

>next week.

>

>* * * * * * * * *

>

>Steve Bridger

>redefine ltd

>

e: steveredefine [dot] co [dot] uk

>w: http://www.redefine.co.uk



Marcus Austin - Editor

Internet Works

Future Network PLC,

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