Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Departments are not doing enough to be transparent or build public trust on the use...
Conclusion
Departments are not doing enough to be transparent or build public trust on the use of data analytics to tackle fraud. In tackling fraud, government must balance maintaining public trust by being transparent about what it is doing, with not providing so much information that it helps fraudsters. We are concerned that government is not doing enough to assure the public that its use of data analytics is appropriate and does not disadvantage sections of the population. As an example, government bodies are required to disclose publicly any use of algorithms, AI and machine learning in decision making through the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard. DSIT told us that, while it believes it has captured most such uses, it knows that not all the expected cases have been recorded. As of February 2026, the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard repository held 11 records that mentioned ‘fraud’, and none of the good practice examples of data analytics case studies the NAO reported on were present on the register. recommendation The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology should ensure that all government bodies comply with the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard so that the Hub captures all relevant uses of AI and machine learning. It should continuously monitor, update and ensure compliance with guidance around data analytics transparency to ensure that it maximises transparency without assisting fraudsters.
Government Response
Response Pending
HM Government
Response Pending
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented Ensuring departmental compliance is an ongoing effort for DSIT. DSIT updated the Committee as part of the Treasury Minute process at the end of 2025, and the Permanent Secretary gave oral evidence on this as part of the session on the use of data analytics to tackle fraud and error in January 2026. Below is a further update on progress with implementing the mandatory rollout of the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS). The rollout will continue to be tracked through the government's roadmap for modern digital government. DSIT is continuing to implement the mandatory rollout of the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS) in central government. Over 130 records have been published on GOV.UK to date. DSIT published records for all currently identified in-scope algorithmic tools (as of March 2025) in government departments (not including ALBs) by the end of 2025, reaching the commitment set in the Roadmap for Modern Digital Government. ATRS compliance is an ongoing process, with new tools being developed and deployed requiring ATRS records on a rolling basis. To reflect this, DSIT commissions departments twice a year to map new in-scope tools and supports them in completing records for publication. The ATRS team work closely with relevant government bodies to ensure that the scope and exemptions policy provides the appropriate amount of guidance on sensitive tools such as those used in fraud detection and prevention. Updates and further guidance will be provided where needed. List of Treasury Minutes responses for Sessions 2010-15 are annexed in the government’s response to PAC Report 52 Publication Date PAC Reports Ref Number December 2022 Government response to PAC reports 18-22 CP 774 January 2023 Government response to PAC reports 23-26 CP 781 February 2023 Government response to PAC reports 27-31 CP 802 March 2023 Government response to PAC reports 32-36 CP 828 May 2023 Government response to PAC reports 37-41 CP 845 June 2023 Government response to PAC reports 42-47 CP 847 July 2023 Government response to PAC reports 48-54 CP 902 August 2023 Government response to PAC reports 55-60 CP 921 September 2023 Government response to PAC reports 62-67 CP 941 November 2023 Government response to PAC reports 68-71 CP 968 January 2024 Government response to PAC reports 72-79 CP 1000 February 2024 Government response to PAC reports 80 [1-6 Session 23-24] CP 1029 Session 2021-22 Committee Recommendations: 362 Recommendations agreed: 333 (92%) Recommendations disagreed: 29 Publication Date PAC Reports Ref Number August 2021 Government response to PAC reports 1-6 CP 510 September 2021 Government response to PAC reports 8-11 CP 520 November 2021 Government response to PAC reports 7,13-16 (and TM2 BBC) CP 550 December 2021 Government response to PAC reports 12, 17-21 CP 583 January 2022 Government response to PAC reports 22-26 CP 603 February 2022 Government response to PAC reports 27-31 CP 631 April 2022 Government response to PAC reports 32-35 CP 649 April 2022 Government response to PAC reports 36-42 CP 667 July 2022 Government response to PAC reports 49-52 CP 722 Session 2019-21 Committee Recommendations: 233 Recommendations agreed: 208 (89%) Recommendations disagreed: 25 Publication Date PAC Reports Ref Number July 2020 Government responses to PAC reports 1-6 CP 270 September 2020 Government responses to PAC reports 7-13 CP 291 November 2020 Government responses to PAC reports 14-17 and 19 CP 316 January 2021 Government responses to PAC reports 18, 20-24 CP 363 February 2021 Government responses to PAC reports 25-29 CP 376 February 2021 Government responses to PAC reports 30-34 CP 389 March 2021 Government responses to PAC reports 35-39 CP 409 April 2021 Government responses to PAC reports 40- 44 CP 420 May 2021 Government responses to PAC reports 45-51 CP 434 June 2021 Government responses to PAC reports 52-56 CP 456 Session 2019 Committee Recommendations: 11 Recommendations agreed: 11 (100%) Recommendations disagreed: 0 Ref Publication Date PAC Reports Number January 2020 Government response to PAC report [112-119] 1 and 2 CP 210 Session 2017-19 Committee Recommendations: 747 Recommendations agreed: 675 (90%) Recommendations disagreed: 72 (10%) Publication Date PAC Reports Ref Number December 2017 Government response to PAC report 1 Cm 9549 January 2018 Government responses to PAC reports 2 and 3 Cm 9565 March 2018 Government responses to PAC reports 4-11 Cm 9575 March 2018 Government responses to PAC reports 12-19 Cm 9596 May 2018 Government responses to PAC reports 20-30 Cm 9618 June 2018 Government responses to PAC reports 31-37 Cm 9643 July 2018 Government responses to PAC reports 38-42 Cm 9667 October 2018 Government responses to PAC reports 43-58 Cm 9702 December 2018 Government responses to PAC reports 59-63 Cm 9740 January 2019 Government responses to PAC reports 64-68 CP 18 March 2019 Government r