Stephen Timms set to become communications minister

Timms used to work in the IT industry

Treasury minister Stephen Timms is set to become the new communications minister, according to reports.

Lord Stephen Carter left the position after finishing his Digital Britain report in June and is set for a return to the private sector.

Carter was originally drafted into government to overhaul Gordon Brown's press strategy but was moved sideways to communications minister after reported in-fighting in Downing Street.

Timms brings a wealth of IT industry experience: he is a former e-commerce minister and worked for Logica and technology analyst Ovum before being elected to Parliament. He is currently financial secretary to the Treasury.

The Guardian reports that Timms is being parachuted into the communications brief because of fears of a lack of momentum behind the Digital Britain agenda following Carter's departure.

Among other measures, the report proposed ensuring all UK homes have access to broadband internet by 2012, and levying a 50p-a-month tax on all phone lines to pay for the creation of new high-speed fibre networks.

The report also pledged that the government will reduce online piracy through a system of warning letters to persistent offenders, though it ruled out a " three strikes" system that would see persistent offenders disconnected.

ISPs and regulator Ofcom were due to agree on the details of the plans but dialogue between the two parties has reportedly stalled.

In 2007 Timms won the Computing award for outstanding contribution to UK IT.

A spokesman for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills refused to comment.