Why is the only internet bill in the Queen's speech to be one banning internet adoptions - surely this is knee-jerk legislation and there are more pressing internet issues?
In general the government takes the view that existing legislation applies online as it does offline.
Successive governments have sought to safeguard children however, through adoption legislation by permitting only local authorities or accredited adoption agencies to advertise a child for adoption.
The government is simply extending this safeguard to include the internet, while providing a defence for internet service providers so that they are not guilty of an offence where they are not aware of the content of the information.
How would the government stop pictures of the Bulger killers appearing on the web?
We are aware of recent reports in the media, however, it would be inappropriate to comment in detail on what is speculation.
The attorney general has reminded media about their obligations under the high court injunction in January this year aimed at protecting information regarding the identity and whereabouts of T and V in order to protect them from harm.
The government intends to take all necessary measures in this case to fulfil its obligations.
Regarding the regulation of investigatory powers bill - will you be willing to send people to prison for not handing over their encryption keys. How much privacy would you expect in your own emails?
There needs to be a sanction for criminals who willfully decide not to hand over decryption keys. Otherwise they would be able to conceal their activities with impunity which, on a fundamental level, cannot be right.
Part III of RIPA contains an offence for not complying with a disclosure requirement (s.53). The max sentence is 2 years imprisonment. It targets the criminal. Individuals will not go to prison for forgetting or losing keys. The Act simply does not work in this way.
If Labour is so concerned about voter apathy and disconnection with young people, why won't you look at allowing voting online for the next general election?
The Office of the e-Envoy is looking at the issue of policies for e-democracy, of which one track is electronic voting. We've only just introduced major changes to the voting system in relation to the postal voting.
Before you could allow electronic voting in a general election, you would have to make sure the required technology was in place to provide a similar level of security in the online system as compared to the current paper one.
Already, several pilots of electronic voting and electronic counting have been carried out in local government. The pilots have been evaluated and the results are published here.
What measures will legislate for to kick-start e-commerce?
E-commerce is already happening. The challenges for business are to integrate new ways of working electronically into their business - not just by having a website or trading online but how they work with customers, suppliers and other partners and how they capture all the internal benefits.
The government's UK online for business programme, which I am now responsible for, aims to provide advice and help to businesses so that they can meet these challenges.
As you will see on our site, www.ukonlineforbusiness.gov.uk, we already have a UK wide network of advisers and a wide range of other support services.
The recent "opportunity for all" white paper announced plans for a further £30m over the next three years to expand the programme to help put UK business in the lead in the new, transforming ways of working that information and communication technologies enable.
E-commerce is about the market, skills and enterprise. One thing government can do is to get the market framework right, and that's work we'll develop by implementing the communications white paper and creating Office of communications.
What damage do you think that dotcom crash has had on the status of e-commerce within Whitehall?
E-commerce remains vital for the government. Our view of its importance to the UK economy has not been changed by what has happened with dotcoms. We recognise that the very public failures of dotcoms have had a disproportionate effect on sentiment about technology companies but we continue to believe in e-commerce and still aim to be the best place in the world for e-commerce by 2002.
Internet companies have considerable potential and they'll continue to be able to learn from the problems that dotcoms have had in the past.
In order to help them, the government has the internet mentoring initiative which includes a portal offering, for example, support, information and diagnosis of the needs of individual internet companies and an internet incubator fund to stimulate the creation of incubators offering internet companies the supportive environment they need.
What has been the most significant event in the economy in persuading the government to take e-commerce seriously?
There was no single event that put e-commerce at the heart of government's agenda. It has for years encouraged the use of new technologies by businesses, but this gained further impetus with the advent of the Internet.
It is clear to any observer that the internet has the potential to transform the way we buy, sell and do business and we will continue to encourage e-business as part of the UK's competitiveness.
What role will the still surviving dotcom entrepreneurs play in creating government policy?
We recognise dotcom entrepreneurs as having a lot to bring to government policy on enterprise and entrepreneurship.
We've involved them in a good deal of consultations and, for example, in putting in place things like the internet mentoring initiative. We will continue to talk to entrepreneurs of all kinds be they from the dotcom community or from other sectors.
What interest did you have in the internet before you were appointed?
My first summer job as a student, working for a computer manufacturer, gave me a sense of just how central computers would be to commerce in the years to come.
Like everyone else I've seen the internet transform the way we stay in touch (I have a sister who lives abroad) and the way we shop. (I actually first viewed my present home online).
I've had a constituency website for a couple of years, and in my role as Labour's general election campaign co-ordinator, I worked to ensure our e-campaigning was central to the election campaign.
In 12 months time what would you liked to have achieved in policy terms?
Our target - set at the end of 1999 - is to make the UK the best place in the world for e-commerce by 2002. I will be working to achieve it!
Can you define 'broadband'?
While most people today connect to the internet by "narrowband" over a phone line, broadband services offer significantly faster data rates that can also facilitate "always on" connection to the Internet and enable services like video-on-demand.
In fact the term broadband is often used to describe a very wide set of technologies, offering data rates that are orders of magnitude apart.
Current generation broadband services are provided at speeds of 2mbit/s and over whilst next generation broadband services will be provided at speeds of 10 mbits/s and over.
Until this year, the most common way in which higher bandwidth and broadband services have been supplied to consumers is via leased line products.
But the market is developing rapidly. ADSL, cable modems and broadband fixed wireless access are likely to be the most prominent technologies in the medium-term.
• ADSL - which upgrades BT's narrowband copper loop to deliver higher bandwidth services - is being rolled out rapidly across the UK
• Cable modem services - are beginning to be rolled out
• Broadband fixed wireless, satellite and 3G mobile - will begin to be extensively rolled within the next two years.
What do you think needs to be done to address the issue of digital divide in this country?
Tackling social inclusion is central to the government's agenda and so work to close the digital divide will be critical.
I've been impressed by the work of a local learning centre in my own constituency, but for those living in disadvantaged areas, social exclusion can range across unemployment, basic skills, poor housing, and high crime rates.
The government has established UK online centres which provide internet access within communities. There will be 6000 such centres by the end of 2002 in local venues - community centres, libraries - accessible by the whole community.
Improving access to the internet can help tackle social exclusion - by opening up access to information and jobs, but also by raising confidence and skill levels.
So we need to provide access, but we also need to ensure people have the skills and confidence to use the new technologies to realise their potential.
Do you agree with the whole internet industry that BT has been dragging its heels on the issue of broadband roll out/unbundling and that it's up to the government to whip BT into shape?
We are witnessing the start of a new market here, and we should not expect it to be problem free. Oftel is seeking to deliver a competitive broadband market.
We do want to see broadband rolled out quickly, but achieving this is not just about working with BT. It's also about getting other competitors in the market and stimulating a higher demand for broadband.
And it's not just about BT's activities whether that's providing ADSL or enabling LLU. Cable, fibre optics, satellite and wireless all have their parts to play and there are dozens - if not hundreds - of companies deploying one or more of these technologies.
LLU is just one way of introducing more competition by making sure that the copper wires that are already linking customers to exchanges can be used by companies other than BT to provide high speed Internet access and other data services.
Through OFTEL's initiative we now have unbundled loops available and in use in the UK but there is still much to do to enable other operators to make the most of availability from BT.
And the advent of LLU has spurred BT to roll out ADSL so that over 50% of the population live in areas that already have ADSL-enabled exchanges and BT plan to increase this to 60% by September.
Which of the previous secretaries of state at the DTI did the most to make the government love the web?
Given her previous work as e-commerce minister, I think Patricia Hewitt is now well placed to lead on this.
Does Gordon Brown use the internet?
Perhaps you should ask him.
How do you think the government can ever have a credible internet policy when the provision of government services online is still so woeful?
I wouldn't agree. The most recent survey of departments shows that for the whole of central government there are 521 services provided to the citizen or to business.
Of these, 218 services are enabled now, 384 services will be enabled by 2002 and 517 services will be enabled by 2005.
Did you use the internet during the election and, if so, how do you think it will influence campaigning at the next one?
Yes, I used the internet regularly during the election for both news updates and to carry out research.
The internet was actually central to our campaigning. Our site was redesigned shortly before the election campaign started and the policy content, games and localised information on the site proved a real success.
So I have little doubt that internet campaigning will grow in significance in the years to come.
What was your best memory from the election?
Being re-elected to represent the people of Paisley South.
When were you most concerned about the outcome of the election?
Some of the coverage on the day of our manifesto launch wasn't exactly anticipated, but I knew we still had the approach people wanted on issues like the economy and public services.
What was the last thing you bought online?
Airline tickets
What are your five favourite sites and which one do you dislike the most?
I look at the Paisley Daily Express site www.inside-scotland.co.uk for constituency news when in London. For Scottish news I look at the Herald site www.theherald.co.uk and for politics it's www.theguardian.com/politics. I also use www.ukonline.gov.uk government information. Fellow fans of West Wing at Millbank introduced me to www.Jedbartlet.com.
I can't say reading the Conservative party site, www.conservatives.com during the election was a great joy!
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Related articles
22.06.2001: New e-minister is no technophobe
12.06.2001: Alexander replaces Hewitt as e-minister
Useful links
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