PITCOM

Make IT Happy competition winners announced

Schools from Surrey, London, and Gwent have been announced as winners of the fifth Make IT Happy competition, run by the Parliamentary Information Technology Committee (PITCOM), an associate parliamentary group, and e-skills UK, at an awards ceremony held at the Houses of Parliament this week.

PITCOM meeting report June 2011: Ethical and spiritual implications of the internet

While the positive power of the internet is illustrated by its role in the Arab Spring, its potential for harm is as yet poorly understood.

PITCOM meeting report May2011: Delivery of the Government�s IT strategy
The four-part plan
The government has launched an ambitious ICT strategy aimed at delivering better services in tough financial times. So how does it break down?

PITCOM meeting report March 2011: UK jobs in the Internet economy
Good connections
Commercial activity on the Internet is transforming the UK economy, and
technology start-ups can still reap huge rewards: but they need support.

PITCOMN corporate members 2011
April 2011: The corporate members of PITCOM currently include:

PITCOM briefs MPs on role of the internet in Middle East pro-democracy struggle
A briefing for MPs and Peers on the role played by the Internet, mobile phones and other digital communications technologies is published today (15 March 2011) by PITCOM, the Parliamentary IT Committee.

PITCOM Annual Report for 2010
The PITCOM Annual Report for 2010 has been published, and can be found at this link in Word format

PITCOM Council Members 2011

MPs encourage primary schools to "Pass IT on" in annual Make IT Happy competition

By Alun Michael, Labour and Cooperative MP for Cardiff South and Penarth and Chairman of PITCOM.
In the digital age, there are few aspects of education that are more important to a child�s future than understanding IT � which is why MPs have taken the lead in opening up this exciting new world to primary school children. And it�s that time of year again��.
For further information, visit the Make IT Happy website http://makeithappy.cc4g.net

PITCOM briefing January 2011: Broadband for all constituents - the challenge for MPs and industry
How fast is fast enough?
Lack of access to broadband can lead to social and political exclusion. For
politicians, the race is on to ensure all constituents are connected.

PITCOM meeting report January 2011: Balancing privacy and law enforcement online
Dark side of the net
Anonymous servers and secret networks can help citizens avoid censorship but could also have harmful uses. How dangerous are they?

Parliamentary IT Committee (PITCOM) - Proceedings 2009

Parliamentary IT Committee (PITCOM) - Proceedings 2009

Parliamentary Information Technology Committee (PITCOM) requires supplier of administrative and secretariat services
Subject to negotiation

The Parliamentary Information Technology Committee (PITCOM) invites proposals from interested parties for the provision of administrative and secretariat services to the group.

PITCOM summer reception on the House of Lords Terrace - June 2009

PITCOM meeting report December 2010: National security and secret intelligence in the internet era
Intelligent design
The internet and other new technologies have transformed the work of our intelligence services. But do the security threats outweigh the gains?

PITCOM meeting report November 2010: Using IT to save money � grounds rules for success
Supporting role
Big government ICT systems are not built for their own sake but to support business change � a limited but vital role requiring strong leadership.

PITCOM briefing July 2010: Internet governance
Co-operation or control?
The internet�s fast-changing nature means the formal structures of international law are too slow to keep up. So how can its development be safeguarded and overseen for the common good? Decision time is close and the stakes are high.

PITCOM meeting report June 2010: Why we must become a 100% connected nation
Good connections
The lives of millions would be enhanced by greater access to the internet � and UK plc would gain billions, says UK Digital Champion Martha Lane Fox.

Tribute to Ian Taylor MBE
Ian Taylor, previously a Vice chairman of PITCOM, retired at the 2010 General Election. Richard Sarson pays a personal tribute to him, and fears that his experience will be missed in the new Parliament.

PITCOM meeting report February 2010: The future of data protection and privacy
Privacy on parade
Tougher legal sanctions are needed to deal with the problem of stolen identities, says Information Commissioner Christopher Graham.

PITCOM Council Members 2010

Students encouraged to help get their communities online
MPs and e-skills UK have launched the fourth year of the Make IT Happy competition, a UK-wide technology challenge for primary school students aged 9 to 11. The competition is run by the Parliamentary Information Technology Committee (PITCOM) and e-skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for Business and Information Technology, and is backed by more than 80 MPs from across the UK.

Schools can enter at http://makeithappy.cc4g.net/. The closing date for entries is 31st July 2010.

PITCOM Annual Report for 2009
The PITCOM Annual Report for 2009 has been published, and can be found at this link in Word format

PITCOM: Corporate members 2010
The corporate members of PITCOM currently include:

PITCOM briefing January 2010: This issue: Accessing and using digital maps
Mapping the future
Radical change is afoot at Ordnance Survey, with consultation underway on freeing up most of its data for all to use. But what are the potential pitfalls?

PITCOM meeting report Jan 2010: Cloud computing � Opportunity or threat?
Cloud forecast
Cloud computing can break down large IT projects into constituent parts, bringing new flexibility and efficiency to major government programmes.

PITCOM meeting report Dec 2009: Virtual worlds in education
Games lesson
The technologies behind popular videogames has vital potential for youth social engagement and education, Lord Puttnam of Queensgate told PITCOM.

PITCOM briefing December 2009: Protecting our Critical National Infrastructure
Life support systems
The UK�s Critical National Infrastructure � its network of essential services � grows ever more dependent on technology. How to control the risks?

The late John McWilliam
Long-standing members of PITCOM will be saddened to learn of the death of John McWilliam. The former Member for Blaydon was Chairman from 1997 until his retirement from Parliament in 2005.

PITCOM meeting report Oct 2009: Technology in the future political process
The future is interactive
The internet�s two-way flexibility can enhance dialogue between politicians and citizens. But technology alone cannot create a better political system.

MPs defeat journalists in technology challenge
While some PITCOM Parliamentary members sipped wine on the Terrace of the House of Lords on 23rd June, others were pitting their technical knowledge half a mile away in Church House in a stern struggle against teams of journalists and civil servants in the third �BT Technology Challenge� quiz.

PITCOM briefing Sept 2009: Purchasing power � access to public sector ICT contracts by small businesses
A bureaucratic mountain
Pitching for lucrative public sector contracts can be a daunting prospect for small businesses. What measures can government take to redress the balance?

PITCOM meeting report June 2009: IT's role in the erosion of economic sovereignt
Checks and balances
At the June 2009 PITCOM meeting, Will Hutton said: 'The world financial crisis is causing governments to look inwards and try to reassert economic sovereignty. The problem is, Britain has been a major beneficiary of globalisation, and stands to lose much from its weakening.'

Obituary: Derek H Broome 1922 - 2009
Derek H Broome
Born 16th June 1922
Died 8th June 2009

�I�m only a humble engineer but �� .

PITCOM summer reception: House of Lords Terrace, 23rd June 2009
Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury and a former Treasurer of the Parliamentary Information Technology Committee (PITCOM) was guest of honour at PITCOM�s summer reception on the House of Lords Terrace on 23rd June 2009. The evening was hosted by the Earl of Erroll, and kindly sponsored by Motorola.

PITCOM Annual Report 2008 & membership report 2009
The PITCOM Annual Report 2008 & membership report 2009 have been published, and can be found at this link in pdf format

PITCOM briefing May 2009: An elusive IMP: the state of UK communications surveillance powers
The great data debate
The Government�s proposed new Interception Modernisation Programme (IMP) � plans for extended monitoring of citizens� communications data � is attracting controversy, despite being scaled down to avoid creating a single centralised database. How to proceed?

PITCOM meeting report May 2009: Deal or no deal: Pricing in the mobile communica
Upwardly mobile
The mobile phone sector is booming but, as an industry, it can be slow to tackle consumer issues. Will the Government have to step in to force
it to act more swiftly?

PITCOM meeting report March 2009: Security policy: Myth or reality?
A balancing act
Large databases are necessary for major organisations to function in the modern world, but what measures can be taken to balance the benefits with potential risks of possible misuse of data?

PITCOM: Future meetings

Tuesday 21st June, 6pm-7pm
‘Ethical and Spiritual Dimensions of Internet Governance’

Colloquium with the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists

Tuesday 21st June, 7.15pm-9.30pm
‘House of Lords Annual Reception’
with thanks to Motorola

PITCOM meeting report February 2009: Digital Britain: An Industry Manifesto
Broadband blueprint

Lord Carter�s interim report on Digital Britain is a step in the right direction, says the Communications Management Association. But five key policy areas must be strengthened to give UK businesses a boost.

PITCOM news December 2008: Mission to India report
Four Parliamentary members of PITCOM attended the Internet Governance Forum in Hyderabad from December 3-6th 2008. PITCOM took the lead on this initiative with the support of Eurim and Appcomms. Nominet, the .UK registry, sponsored the MPs� visit to the conference.While the MPs were in Hyderabad they spent two days of the IGF week (December 1st and 2nd 2008) visiting Indian IT organisations to gain an understanding of the Indian IT Industry.

PITCOM Council Members 2009

PITCOM meeting report January 2009: Your information - Who cares?
A high personal priority

Who cares about personal data? Nearly everyone: according to research, 94 per cent of the public rank concerns about their information as a top social issue � alongside worries about crime.?