Silicon.com: Have you got a licence for that geek?

[Owen Blacker]

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> HEADLINE: Have you got a licence for that geek?
> PUBLISHED: 5:45pm on Wednesday 2nd May 2001
> CHANNEL: Contractors
> AUTHOR: Sally Watson
> SERVICE: http://www.silicon.com
> 
> TEXT OF STORY FOLLOWS:
> 
> A compulsory licensing scheme for IT security professionals 
> came one step closer to reality on Tuesday after opposition 
> MPs failed to force a government climb down on controversial 
> legislation.
> 
> Concern has been spreading over a proposed law which 
> primarily aims to crackdown on cowboy wheelclampers and 
> bouncers, but sees IT consultants fall under its extensive remit.
> 
> Despite claims that the Private Security Industry Bill 
> contravenes the European electronic commerce directive, a 
> Commons Standing Committee yesterday passed the legislation 
> without amendment.
> 
> The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) this week added 
> its name to a list of distinguished objectors. Its head of 
> ebusiness, Nigel Hickson, accused the government of trying to 
> "legislate through oversight" and called on the Home Office 
> to exempt IT professionals.
> 
> In a statement, Hickson said that given the government's 
> track record on computer-related legislation the CBI was not 
> optimistic that "good sense will prevail".
> 
> The CBI briefed opposition MPs about the potential clash with 
> the EU's ecommerce directive which is due to come into force 
> early next year.
> 
> The directive says that member states "shall ensure that the 
> taking up and pursuit of the activity of an information 
> society service provider may not be made subject to prior 
> authorisation or any other requirement having equivalent effect".
> 
> Conservative MP Nick Hawkins told the Standing Committee: "A 
> requirement for members of the IT security industry to obtain 
> licences from a regulatory authority in order to operate 
> would, in the CBI's view, constitute prior authorisation, 
> which would directly contravene the directive." 
> 
> So far, ecommerce minister Patricia Hewitt has publicly 
> refused to get involved in the debate, but sources believe 
> some at the DTI are very concerned about the Bill's effect. 
> 
> One IT consultant has even taken his concerns directly to DTI 
> supremo Stephen Byers, catching up with him on a train from 
> Devon to voice his concerns.
> 
> The Bill will go through its report stage in the House of 
> Commons on Tuesday.
> 
> For related news, see:
> IT pros may need licences to work
> http://www.silicon.com/a43615
> 
> 
> STORY ENDS
> 
> For more information on silicon.com go to http://www.silicon.com.
> 
> silicon.com - the who, what, when, where and why of ebusiness

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