Industry groups are calling on Stephen Timms, the newly-appointed chief secretary to the Treasury, to take technology issues to the heart of government.

The 15-year IT industry veteran and former ecommerce minister was appointed as Chancellor Gordon Brown’s number two in the Cabinet reshuffle this month.

Both Timms’ background and his new role, which includes responsibility for departmental budget-setting, make him ideally placed to ensure IT issues are considered at the highest levels.

Trade body Intellect and business group the Institute of Directors (IoD) are campaigning for the government to update the statistical indicators used to assess UK economic productivity.

Revised metrics would take into account the effect of IT and allow more forward-looking policy making, both of which are vital if the UK is to compete with emerging economies such as India and

China, according to a report published by Intellect last week.

The recommendations are not new, but with Timms’ appointment they stand a better chance of implementation than ever before, says IoD senior policy advisor Jim Norton.

‘It needs a heavyweight ministerial sponsor to drive this through. Stephen Timms is in an ideal position and he understands the agenda,’ he said.

The Department for Trade and Industry already works closely with industry groups, but there will be little change without similar support from the Treasury, says Intellect president John Woodget, who is also managing director of chip giant Intel (UK).

‘Timms would be a great leader,’ he said. ‘We need the Treasury to take this seriously as they are the measurers.’

Timms’ role also has implications within Whitehall. Implementation of the eGovernment Unit’s Transformational Government (TG) strategy is tied into departments’ Comprehensive Spending Reviews, which are overseen by the chief secretary.

Ian Kearns, deputy director at think tank the Institute of Public Policy Research, says that the two areas should be linked, with progress of the TG agenda being incorporated into new-style economic indicators.

‘It should be built into the metrics framework, to ram home the point that government is crucial, not just as regulator of the private sector but also in what it is doing with its own vast resources,’ he said.

What do you think? Email us at: feedback@computing.co.uk