Gov't e-commerce policy a shambles
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has the best Web site of all
the political leaders in the European Union, it's been revealed.
He can now wear his anorak with pride after his site was lauded
by a bunch of academic computer experts at two universities in
Holland.
Still, just as you shouldn't judge a book by its cover -- or a
Web site by its flashy gifs -- neither should Blair be hailed as
some kind of Web hero.
Since coming to power in May 1997 Blair has had no fewer than
four people in charge of e-commerce.
Peter Mandelson and Barbara Roche shared the responsibility until
Mandy left the Government under a financial cloud.
That nice Michael Wills had the job afterwards but now he's been
booted off to another department following the Government
reshuffle that never was.
Enter Miss Patricia Hewitt -- MP for Leicester West and a former
director of research at Andersen Consulting -- for she is now
taking up the job although how long she'll last is anyone's
guess.
A spokeswoman for the Government said that the rapid turnover of
ministerial staff was not restricted to the Department of Trade
and Industry. Apparently it's commonplace.
This, it seems, is how Government works. All those companies and
pressure groups that spent time and effort influencing the
decision-makers will now have to start schmoozing all over again.
And all those ministers who've gained a little knowledge now have
to gen up on something else instead.
What a waste. A bit like the Government's indecision over the
appointment of the e-commerce envoy to represent the country's
best interests in the wired world.
Apparently, the decision was left with the 10 Downing Street--
Tony Blair, to be specific -- in March but not a word has been
said since.
You don't think Tony has been so busy tweaking his Web site and
staying up late at nights to surf the Web that he's forgotten to
do anything about the envoy?
Nah, me neither... ®
-- Life is a game where men know the rules but women always win because they know the score -- unknownRegards brd
Bernard Robertson-Dunn Canberra Australia brd@dynamite.com.au