Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Accepted
Continuously invest in staff digital development, avoiding counter-productive headcount reductions for capability.
Recommendation
Headcount reductions can be counter-productive at a time when government knows it needs to double its digital, data and technology capability and is struggling to recruit the staff it needs. We were therefore disappointed to hear that apprenticeships had been a victim of departmental decisions on headcount culls.31 Government should continuously invest in staff development for clear long-term benefit. 22 Qq 57–59 23 C&AG’s Report, para 27 24 Qq 11, 30 25 Qq 13–14 26 Q 31 27 Q 16 28 Q 14 29 Q 31 30 Q 32 31 Qq 1, 23, 26–28 12 Digital transformation in government: addressing the barriers to efficiency 2 Addressing inefficiencies and transforming legacy services Single service owners and timely metrics
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation to continuously invest in staff development, setting a target for 6% of the Civil Service workforce to be in Digital, Data and Technology roles by June 2025, and notes a 19.6% increase in this headcount in 2022-23.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: June 2025 4.2 The government has set a target that at least 6% of the overall workforce of the Civil Service will be members of the Digital, Data and Technology profession by June 2025. This has been endorsed by the Permanent Secretary Digital and Data Board and agreed through a Write Round handling letter. 4.3 Significant progress is already being achieved in growing the size and capability of the digital workforce. Namely, the headcount of civil servants in Digital, Data and Technology roles has increased 19.6% in 2022-23.