Fourth Special Report - Encoding values: Putting tech at the heart of UK foreign policy - Government Response to the Committee’s Third

This is the government's response, published 24 October 2022.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government states that it "agrees with the Committee's recommendations for the FCDO" on developing international technology policy, while setting out its approach mainly through the forthcoming International Technology Strategy.

• On the growing influence of private companies, it "accept[s] the Committee's assessment" and says FCDO is expanding its Tech Envoy network to increase engagement with tech companies in different regions.
• On export controls and data, it agrees that data challenges are "a national security liability" but says it does "not believe introducing disproportionate restrictions on data transfers is the right response".
• On FCDO skills, it agrees on the need to "upskill our staff" and commits that FCDO "will also establish a secondment programme with the tech sector", with no date stated.
• On metrics, it "recognise[s] the importance" of them, says performance metrics will sit in an internal implementation plan, and says FCDO "will publish in its annual report and accounts" information on international technology partnerships.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error