UK needs knowledge minister

Computing is supporting calls for a new ministerial post to focus on developing the knowledge economy.

Industry trade body Intellect says the incoming government needs to do more if the UK is to maintain its global competitiveness, and is urging the appointment of a minister for the knowledge economy to provide much-needed political leadership.

'The next parliament represents a critical juncture,' said Tom Wills-Sandford, Intellect's director of public affairs. 'The UK can either accelerate towards a coherent knowledge economy, or stagnate and leave the path clear for new entrants such as India and China.

'We need to get away from the shared portfolio of ecommerce, energy and postal services, because that does not help develop real political leadership.'

Intellect says the new minister should be responsible for co-ordinating policies in four key areas: innovation, skills, infrastructure and a policy environment that provides incentives to innovation and entrepreneurship.

The proposal is widely supported, but experts are concerned about difficulties associated with delivering an agenda that cuts across multiple departments.

Jim Norton, senior policy adviser at the Institute of Directors, says appointing a minister is the easy part.

'The minister is the icing on the cake but not the cake itself. There needs to be coherent structures in departments to make it happen,' he said.

'To get any delivery would need a cabinet sub-committee, chaired by the minister but meeting under the aegis of the Prime Minister, to carry enough weight across Whitehall.

'It would be a huge plus if the minister was in the Treasury rather than in the Department of Trade and Industry, because it will need real clout.'

Philip Virgo, strategic advisor to user group the Institute for the Management of Information Systems, said: 'To prevent other ministers from abdicating responsibility, the new minister will need both to chair the relevant cabinet committees and to have budgetary authority.'