Hutton and Miliband promoted in Cabinet restructuring
Downing Street's post-election Cabinet reshuffle has seen John Hutton become the fourth minister in the space of eight months to take lead responsibility for eGovernment in the UK.
The former health minister has been promoted to Minister for the Cabinet Office, replacing David Miliband who enters the Cabinet as the new Minister for Communities and Local Government. Mr Hutton had previous ministerial responsibility for overseeing the £6 billion IT modernisation of the NHS.
David Miliband's joining of the Cabinet, after five months in his previous post, was widely expected due to his role in Labour's re-election efforts.
The move sees a restructuring of the ministerial team in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. According to Number 10, this is due to the "heavy agenda" the department faces in the months ahead, requiring Mr Miliband to be of Cabinet rank.
There are also rumours today that the Cabinet Office could take over some of the work relating to local eGovernment.
Former Trade and Industry Secretary and erstwhile e-Minister Patricia Hewitt - recently described as the only 'e-literate' member of the Cabinet - becomes the new Health Secretary. Ms Hewitt formerly worked for Andersen Consulting, now Accenture, one of the major suppliers involved in the NHS IT Programme.
David Blunkett, the former Home Secretary, returns to the Cabinet to take on the role of Work and Pensions Secretary and the mantle of resolving the Child Support Agency's continuing IT problems. The previous incumbent, Alan Johnson, moves to head up the rebranded and 're-focussed' DTI, now known as the Department for Productivity, Energy and Industry.
Details of the new junior ministers are due to be announced shortly. The post of constitutional affairs minister with specific responsibility for IT and eGovernment has been left vacant following the defeat of Christopher Leslie in the General Election.
Phil Hope, who took over Mr Leslie's role as Local eGovernment minister in 2003, kept his seat in Corby and East Northamptonshire but with his lead greatly reduced from 5,700 to 1,517 votes.
Looking ahead, the Prime Minister's reduced majority of MPs could complicate Labour's plans to push through its manifesto commitment to introduce a national identity card scheme, which faces opposition from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and the party's own backbench members.
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