Watmore promoted to key government post

The move is a recognition of technology's central role, say experts

Ian Watmore, head of the Cabinet Office eGovernment Unit (eGU), is being promoted to lead the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit (PMDU).

The promotion came six weeks after the publication of the eGU transformational government strategy (Computing, 3 November), and just over a year since Watmore was appointed as Whitehall’s first chief information officer (CIO).

The PMDU focuses on delivering the public service reforms at the heart of the New Labour agenda, and Watmore will also retain managerial responsibility for the eGU and its CIO Council. His replacement will report to Watmore, who will in turn report to Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell and be accountable to the Prime Minister.

The changes are partly in recognition of the potential impact of technology at the highest levels of government, says Eric Woods, government practice director at analyst Ovum.

‘One of the concerns is how to take IT issues and link them into the government’s real business and policy issues,’ he said.

‘That recognition is important because it would be very welcome if technology plans can be linked into the big changes in the civil service and the delivery mechanisms supposed to be led by the Cabinet Secretary.’

The danger is that the loss of continuity, and the need to establish a clear role for Watmore’s replacement, could stall the momentum of the eGU strategy.

‘It will be critical how that relationship between the roles and responsibilities is aligned and how plans for taking forward the IT agenda are linked to what Watmore will be doing with policy reform,’ said Woods.

Nick Kalisperas, director of public sector for supplier trade group Intellect, said: ‘Given that IT now permeates through society it is only right that someone with such strong technology experience should be at the heart of delivering government services.’