Budget cuts may squeeze out e-Envoy

The role of the government's IT champion is shrouded in uncertainty, after a senior civil servant confirmed that the Office of the e-Envoy faces stiff budget cuts.

The department will have its budget reduced by nearly 20 per cent next year, according to Sir Peter Turnbull, head of the Home Civil Service.

The decision has fuelled rumours that Andrew Pinder (pictured), the current e-Envoy, may leave before his contract ends in April 2004.

Speaking at the Public Administration Select Committee, Turnbull confirmed that the "numbers were coming down", but stated that the government remained committed to its 2005 e-services target.

The Office of the e-Envoy is responsible for making sure that public services, such as council tax returns, are available online by 2005.

But it is feared that the cuts, combined with dwindling support from Number 10, will mean Pinder leaving his post before that time.

Pinder would be "long gone" by 2005, stated committee member and Conservative MP Ian Liddell-Grainger.

Neither Turnbull nor Pinder's office would comment directly about the possibility of the government losing the chief proponent of its technology strategy before the job was completed.

A spokeswoman for the Office of the e-Envoy said: "It's too premature to speculate beyond 2004. Currently Andrew Pinder is fully focused on meeting the 2005 target."

Were Pinder to leave, a replacement would have to be a priority, said Kate Mountain, chief executive of IT managers' forum Socitm.

The role is a vital part of government strategy, and losing Pinder so "late in the day would be disruptive", she added.

Whatever transpires with departmental budgets, maintaining funding for the Government Gateway is essential, said Mountain.

The Gateway provides a portal for citizens to access a variety of online public services.

The Office of the e-Envoy was unable to provide a spokesperson by the time of going to press.