Former CEO of Logica, Martin Read, has been hired by the government to cut public spending in the IT sector – at a time when some public sector IT projects either seem out of control, mired in controversy and recriminations – or both. p>Read will report to Alistair Darling in the Treasury, where his role includes standardising business processes and cross-departmental compatibility, and improving procurement. Significantly, he will be able to abandon failed projects.