The Cabinet Office has appointed Andrew Stott to the new role of Director of Digital Engagement, a position created to take forward the Power of Information agenda.

The Director of Digital Engagement will be based in Government Communications at the Cabinet Office and will work across government departments to encourage, support and challenge them in moving from communicating to citizens on the web to conversing and collaborating with them through digital technology.

Following a wider review of Cabinet Office organisation to reflect the Government's priorities and its share of efficiency savings the Director of Digital Engagement role will also include responsibility for:

• Implementation of the Power of Information Taskforce recommendations

• Chairing the Government's Knowledge Council and working with The National Archives to take forward the Information Matters strategy for Knowledge and Information Management

• Increasing the civil service's use of internal digital tools to improve  cross-Government coordination and collaboration as an aid to better policy development and service delivery

• The Civil Service Website

Andrew is currently Government Deputy Chief Information Officer.  He has had director-level oversight within the Cabinet Office for the Power of Information work from its inception and was a member of the Minister for Digital Engagement's Power of Information Taskforce.

Tom Watson MP, Minister for Digital Engagement said:

"I am delighted that Andrew Stott will be leading on these vital programmes for government.  His personal involvement in the development of the strategy and his Whitehall experience will be complemented by the new, external high-level advisory panel which will succeed the Taskforce.

"Together we will transform the way that government engages with citizens through the internet and free up government data, so that people can use public services more effectively."