Recommendation 12

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. In our 2019 report Challenges in using data across government, we noted the lack of government-wide data standards, ageing IT systems, fragmented leadership, and a culture that does not support sharing data across departmental boundaries.26 In its response, the government agreed to appoint a Chief Data Officer who would act as a single point of accountability for government’s use of data and agreed on the importance of winning the hearts and minds of departments to ensure good data use. It also agreed to identify the main data standards that would benefit government and the main ageing IT systems that, if fixed, would allow government to use data better and to review departments’ data- sharing guidance.27 At the evidence session, the Cabinet Office told us that investing in data and dealing with legacy IT issues was high on the government’s priority list and that it has a programme of work over the next three years to move old systems on to new, modern, easy-to-use, cloud-based systems.28