Tory MPs propose radical government IT overhaul

Conservative MPs are proposing radical changes to government IT that would include the creation of an IT minister, IT contracts being put in the public domain, a new cyber-crime police unit and the creation of a faster national broadband infrastructure capable of delivering interactive video.

The proposals were unveiled today by the Conservative Technology Forum (CTF), a think-tank led by shadow industry and technology minister Michael Fabricant MP and European MP Malcolm Harbour. The plan does not represent official Tory policy but is aimed at outlining a technology strategy for the party in the event it wins the forthcoming general election.

The CTF manifesto advocates giving a senior minister ultimate authority and responsibility for all government IT projects "in contrast with the present diffuse system which gives responsibility, but little authority, to a senior civil servant who is effectively ignored by secretaries of state concerned only for their own departments".

Details of all winning IT bids would also be placed in the public domain unless they affect national security, along with all the NHS contracts awarded under the £6bn national IT programme for the health service.

The Tory MPs also propose a central cyber-crime helpdesk for collating all reports of computer and internet crime. Currently individuals and businesses must contact their local police force to report such crimes.

A separate paedophile investigation unit to crack down on internet child pornography is also advocated by the CTF but this fails to acknowledge the fact that the National Crime Squad already has a dedicated unit to cover this, which works with local child protection officers.

Aside from a promise to ease the burden of regulation the other key plank of the CTF plans is to encourage the creation of a national broadband infrastructure that rivals the 20MB lines offered as standard to consumers and businesses in Asia and the rest of Europe.

Speaking at the launch of the CTF plan, Fabricant said: "This action plan offers practical policies which an incoming Conservative administration must seriously consider. This shows our joined-up approach to policy making and our determination to move the UK to the front rank of digital economies."