IT users and suppliers have given a cautious welcome to New Labour
's landslide second term with the proviso that government now
focuses on e-commerce and the special skills needs of the
sector.
Colin Beveridge, representing the new "super-user group", the
Confederation of British Technology, commented: "Labour
demonstrated that they didn't understand IT any more than previous
administrations." He advised the new government to deliver on
skills, provide national standards for e-commerce and to "think
through the IT implications of their policy pronouncements."
His criticisms were supported by the results of an online poll
conducted by CW360.com prior to the election, which highlighted a
significant degree of dissent within the IT community over the last
administration's policies, notably over the issues of IR35 and
skills. The Conservatives recorded twice as many online votes as
Labour in the CW360 poll.
"Recognising the maturity of the IT skills market and improving
co-ordination of employment policies to avoid anomalies, [would
avoid] the IR35 fiasco which did not sit well with the relaxation
of entry visas for overseas IT workers," Beveridge said.
John Higgins, director general of Computing Services & Software
Association (CSSA) called for the immediate creation of a cabinet
post for IT. Such a minister would "understand how to exploit IT in
order to gain competitive advantage for the country, and how to use
IT wisely and effectively to modernise public services," he said.
Stephen Alambritis of the Federation of Small Businesses said that
continuity in government departments would help SMEs but also put
in a plea for low interest rates and low inflation. This is
particularly important for IT businesses, enabling them to invest
and keep up to date with global developments, he pointed out.
" I think that people will be looking more to the Bank of England,
irrespective of governments, to ensure that economic substance and
base is there," Alambritis concluded.