Blair appoints new e-minister

Douglas Alexander, MP for Paisley South, has replaced Patricia Hewitt as e-minister following Tony Blair's weekend reshuffle.

Alexander was named minister for ecommerce and competitiveness late last night, although it's not clear yet how the portfolio will differ from that of his predecessor Patricia Hewitt, who was responsible for ecommerce, small businesses and the textiles industry.

The appointment comes three days after Hewitt was promoted to secretary of state for trade and industry.

The move will disappoint some industry chiefs who were keen for Hewitt to keep her responsibility for ecommerce, despite her promotion.

Philip Flaxton, chief executive of high-tech lobby group InterForum, praised Hewitt's knowledge of the subject. "She's very well briefed, and pays more than just lip service to the industry," he said.

Flaxton is now prepared to face another raft of industry briefings with the new e-minister.

John Higgins, director general of the CSSA, will also have mixed feelings about Alexander's appointment, having backed Hewitt to keep the ecommerce portfolio.

Higgins is confident that despite her increased responsibility Hewitt will still remain a champion of the high-tech market. "I'm confident from knowing her that she will concentrate on those parts of UK industry that will make it more competitive and productive," he said.

Glasgow-born Alexander won the Paisley South seat in a by-election in 1997. The 33-year-old MP was part of a backbench revolt against Jack Straw's amendments to the Freedom of Information Bill in 1999.

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