The government's wired wizard announced plans earlier this week to drag Whitehall into the digital age. Speaking at a seminar on government on the Web, e-envoy Alex Allan spoke of how big improvements could be made to the quality and availability of services, together with significant savings. He explained how he hoped to improve the quality of government sites, and how he would introduce a new Web site policy that would improve design, access and navigation of sites across government. The policy has been backed by the Royal National Institute of the Blind -- which is reported to have said that the guidelines will open up a new world of opportunity and information to its members. He also said he would ensure that government departments make greater use of new technology, and that senior officials would attach more importance to the Net. Allan said he would set up a New Media Team that would work closely with departments to ensure government Web sites came up to scratch. "We're determined to modernise this process and drag the senior civil service and government services squarely into the 21st century," said Allan. "We can save the taxpayer millions of pounds as well as revolutionise the convenience and accessibility of public services through new technology." Maybe this desire to save the taxpayers' millions could explain the e-envoy's apparent fondness for recycling things -- in particular announcements the government had already made more than two months ago Or does he think the e-community can't remember what happened that far back? ® Related stories E-envoy issues more dire warnings E by gum e-Envoy E-envoy can't surf Blair appoints e-envoy