Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Accepted
Deliver ongoing digital capability training for senior leaders, covering legacy systems and data.
Recommendation
Ongoing capability building and training for senior leaders is essential. It is being progressed through various training programmes but requires continual attention.18 We heard that a Digital Excellence programme has been piloted recently, although not yet widely rolled out. So far 300 people have been trained but this represents less than 5% of the senior civil service so far, against the target of 15% by September 2023.19 CDDO itself recognises it will take sustained effort and focus from senior leaders across government to meet the target of 90% set out in the Roadmap, so in our view this is unlikely.20 We would also expect this training to include detailed coverage of government’s digital operating environment and the existing constraints and issues associated with legacy systems and data.21 9 Q 73 10 Qq 55, 69 11 Q 55 12 Q 70 13 C&AG’s Report, para 26 14 Qq 45–49 15 Q 49 16 Qq 42–43 17 Q 30 18 Q 7 19 Q 44; C&AG’s Report, para 26 20 Qq 30, 36 21 C&AG’s Report, para 3.23 Digital transformation in government: addressing the barriers to efficiency 11
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation for ongoing capability building and training for senior leaders, committing to CDDO providing an outline for implementation by December 2023, with a target implementation date of June 2025.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: June 2025. 3.2 CDDO will write to the Committee in December 2023 with an outline of how this recommendation will be implemented. The Committee should note that Civil Service HR is now Government People Group. 3.3 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: December 2025. 3.4 CDDO is working with departmental leadership at Permanent Secretary level ‘Digital and Data Board’, to understand how this commitment could be adopted across government. Government departments and delivery bodies already benefit from the wealth of expertise provided by existing non-executive directors, a number of whom have direct digital experience or have led other functions within a digitally-focused organisation.