Government's new technology adviser is an open source enthusiast

Conservative local councillor and head of computing at public school Eton, Liam Maxell, has been appointed as technology adviser to the Cabinet Office, in a move that could herald wider use of open source technology in government.

Maxwell will advise the Efficiency and Reform Group within the Cabinet Office on how technology can deliver better quality, lower cost public services. His appointment, starting from September, is expected to last for 11 months.

He is known to be an advocate of standardising the IT systems deployed across government and has been critical of the high price government departments have had to pay for technology.

In May 2011, he wrote on his blog: “One of the key factors that has kept costs high is 'lock in'" – and he said that this combined with an approach to delivering IT over the longer term, "hands over control to the providers and vendors”.

Maxwell will be given a remit to push for open standards and open source across government, as well as help smaller firms pitch for government contracts.

“He has a strong track record of delivering success in government ICT and he also brings significant experience of turning the theory into practice,” said Ian Watmore, the government’s chief operating officer.

The position as an adviser to the Cabinet Office is regarded as “politically restricted” under civil service rules. As a result, Maxwell has resigned as the councillor for the Eton and Castle ward in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.