Recommendation 19

We have repeatedly highlighted longstanding issues with the quality of data held by government and with its ability to use data effectively to support policy interventions. Our 2019 report Challenges in using data across government noted the lack of government-wide data standards, ageing IT systems, fragmented leadership and a civil service culture that does not support sharing data across departmental boundaries. For instance, the contact centre that government set up a part of its programme to support those most vulnerable during the first lockdown could not get in touch with around 800,000 individuals due to missing or inaccurate NHS records. As we noted in our 2021 report Challenges in implementing digital change, scarcity of specialist digital, data and technology skills across the public and private sectors and a lack of digital skills among government’s senior non-specialists limit government’s ability to address these issues.33