WRITTEN ON April 30th, 2009 BY William Heath AND STORED IN Data nitwittery, Foundation of Trust, Transformational Government, What do we want?

Someone I’ve never heard of called Delyth Morgan of Drefelyn writes to me in my capacity as a ContactPoint National Partner (I had no idea I was one. How did I get on this database. More to the point, how do I get off?) Anyway, Delyth of Drefelyn says

I’m writing to you because of your crucial role in the delivery of ContactPoint

Get on with it man. No; hang on: woman. Apparently (after one wades through all her gratitude for my hard work) she says issues have arisen in the early pre-release stages. Well, blow me. She says

We will not extend ContactPoint beyond this current stage until we are satisfied that all such issues have been addressed.

Hurrah. So it’s paused, and won’t be progressing beyond the current phase then. She fails to add (but should have) that barring an electoral miracle cancellation is promised shortly after the next election. She ends up

Can I thank you once more for your continued [I think she means constructive criticism offered in a loving spirit]

Get off your knees woman. We’re happy to help put an end to this dreadful scheme, because we want to see people well treated, government that obeys the law, and we’re fed up with paying unnecessary tax for things we dont want. So anything we can do to help get life and specifically child protection back on the right track is willingly done. This ingratiating waffle is not necessary, but thanks for the effort.

No doubt this heralds more letters in future:

Dear Identity Management National Partner

I write to say that the Benighted ID Scheme (BIDS) is paused indefinitely while we ensure that we’re satisfied that all issues are addressed. I’d like to assure you that it is not in any way halted, as has been wrongly alleged in the media. Thank you for all your supportive etc etc

and

Dear Personalised Health National Partner

I’m writing to say that the Tony Blair/Bill Gates “Sofa” project for centrally held health records is being indefinitely paused while we ensure that all issues are addressed. It is quite wrong to suggest, as certain parts of the media have done, that it is in any way being halted. Thank you for all your etc etc

Come clean people! Clean up your act! My friend Angela (who is might smart and does not suffer fools gladly) tactfully calls your problem “wilful ignorance”. Psychologists call it groupthink. Get Ideal!