Exclusive - Watmore might be in store for extended Government CIO role

Speculation is mounting about how the role of Ian Watmore, Chief Operating Officer of the Efficiency and Reform Group (ERG) at the Cabinet Office, might develop in the New Year - and along with it the future direction of Government IT policy. Watmore has effectively become acting Government CIO since John Suffolk announced his resignation in November. Sources close to the Cabinet Office suggest that this position might become permanent, and that major announcements about Government IT policy will be made in January, when Suffolk leaves office.The Cabinet Office gagged its spokespeople from discussing IT policy matters in November.Speculation is rife that a major reorganisation of Government IT policy might be made within the Cabinet Office, perhaps extending the CIO role into other areas of Whitehall policy.This follows an October report from UK Digital Champion Martha Lane Fox to Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude about the future strategic direction of Directgov.Among the report's recommendations was the appointment of "a new CEO for Digital in the Cabinet Office with absolute authority over the user experience across all Government online services (websites and APIs) and the power to direct all Government online spending".In response to questions about the potential permanence of Watmore's role and any extension of his responsibilities, the Cabinet Office issued a statement saying:"Ian Watmore, Chief Operating Officer for the Efficiency and Reform Group (ERG), as part of his role, has been working on Office of Government Chief Information Office (OGCIO) and Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) matters and will continue to do so. He will also be chairing the CIO Council until further notice. In the medium term, Ian will be considering how best to take the whole ERG forward. Further details will be announced in due course."