New Labour puts new weight behind our industry

Politics: With the arrival of a new resident, there has been much talk of building work at Number 10. In the end the Blairs have moved next door and the Chancellor into the flat. Pragmatic if not good for the industry. But there are signs, as the new cabinet and ministerial appointments are announced, that New Labour will be putting real weight behind the departments and issues that affect our industry. There are also signs that the new government will be well-informed on their subjects.



Superministry: John Prescott's responsibility for the Regions, Transport and the Environment brings together for the first time three interdependent departments and has the added weight of Prescott's position as Deputy Prime Minister. He is privately advised by David Taylor, until recently head of English Partnerships who will - we must hope and believe - bring new insight to the problems and opportunities inherent in regeneration and regional development. Meanwhile it is rumoured that Geoffrey Robinson, former Jaguar chief executive, is scheduled to bring his experience to bear on the faltering Private Finance Initiative now known as the Public Private Partnership (PPP).



Millennium Meltdown: Apparently only eight per cent of firms in this country have audited their business critical systems in advance of the electronic shenanigans that will occur as the Millennium bell strikes. This is terrifying. I am happy to reassure London commuters that, with a little assistance from us London Transport has bitten the bullet not relied on tooth fairies and begun an exhaustive examination of their systems. So at least under New Labour the trains will run on time.



Paperwork: Since computers took a hold on business, the talk has been of the paperless office. But in most firms there has been little sign of it. But down at Greenwich on the JLE where we are managing construction of the North Greenwich Interchange, we're getting close to it. Under the new NEC contract, we have set up direct computer links between client, consultants and contractors which have enabled us to establish a papers system where change orders and the flagging of "compensation events" are generated and dealt with electronically. "Belt and braces" means we still produce one hard copy of every document - but it is only one, and the total we will generate during this major development will never equal the forests of paper expended on election manifestos.



Hot air: Am I the only person to have noticed that the Millennium Dome has a chimney? None of the drawings so widely published and pored-over show any sign of it. But peeping over the fence at our Greenwich site the other day, I distinctly saw two Blackwall Tunnel ventilation shafts which will apparently soar straight through this architectural masterpiece. I've heard nothing about them being moved. Perhaps they are planning to use them for hanging baskets. OUTLOOK