Recommendation 12

The Cabinet Office pointed to the role that central platforms such as GOV.UK Pay and Notify have played, for example sending alerts and test results to citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.31 But the functions they perform are relatively straightforward commodity services that are already easily available and used extensively in the private sector. We are not convinced these examples demonstrate government’s ability to secure the deeper levels of transformation and business change needed to achieve a more fundamental redesign of services for the digital age.32 Cultivating better systems analysis, data analysis and design skills would help government gain a greater understanding of where to focus its efforts.33 24 C&AG’s Report, para 2.18 25 Q 39 26 C&AG’s Report, paras 2.15–2.21 27 C&AG’s Report, Figure 3 28 Q 18; Cabinet Office, Organising for Digital Delivery, published 22 July 2021, p. 2. Available at https://www.gov. uk/government/publications/organising-for-digital-delivery 29 Qq 22, 67 30 Qq 7, 36–37 31 Q 68 32 Q 4 33 Dr Jerry Fishenden, Professor Mark Thompson and Assistant Professor Will Venters submission page 4 Challenges in implementing digital change 11 2 Co-ordination, skills and outsourcing Strong and accountable co-ordination across government