Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Accepted
Develop a comprehensive plan for securing government's digital commercial skills and detailing playbook improvements.
Conclusion
Cabinet Office and DSIT’s approach to preparing for the opportunities and risks presented by new technologies is not yet being developed alongside addressing more immediate digital procurement challenges. Government faces uncertain but profound technological changes, particularly around artificial intelligence, and rapidly needs to develop the skills to deliver the next generation of programmes for digitally enabled change and the significant task of replacing legacy IT systems 4 with modern equivalents. At the same time, it needs to bring the skills of its people up to an acceptable standard to enable them to successfully deal with historic programmes and challenges from its legacy digital environment. Addressing the existing issues and challenges within government’s digital procurement will be critical to being able to successfully deal with emerging technologies in future, but government is not yet widely thinking in these terms. Cabinet Office does not yet have a plan for how it will develop the specialist digital skills or commercial capability required. The government has published a ‘digital, data and technology playbook’, but this lacks the level of detail needed to offer practical support to officials in departments undertaking procurements. GDS and GCF acknowledge that the playbook needs to be fit for purpose and expanded, to provide clear guidance across the commercial lifecycle and to reflect both the supplier and customer perspective. It intends to update the playbook accordingly. recommendation a. The Cabinet Office and DSIT should develop a comprehensive plan for securing the digital commercial skills that government needs, drawing together assessments of priority capability needs, existing capability and skills gaps. b. The Cabinet Office and DSIT should, within 3 months, set out how they will ensure that the playbook is pitched at a sufficient level of detail to be of practical help and cover the whole commercial lifecycle, and who will be responsib
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and commits to launching an updated Digital, Data and Technology Playbook in December 2025, detailing its framework, best practices, and governance. However, the response does not detail a comprehensive plan for securing digital commercial skills.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the committee’s recommendation. the Committee on progress in December 2025: The Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Playbook provides a comprehensive framework for managing digital and technology projects within the public sector. The Market Sourcing and Suppliers Team is responsible for the playbook and is working with GDS to launch a publication in December 2025, bringing it up to date with current practices and for adoption across all relevant procurement activities. Key points from the Playbook include: • Best Practices: The Playbook consolidates best practice guidelines and policies that help procurement professionals set up projects for success from the outset, minimising the risk of costly mistakes. • Outcome-Based Approach: It emphasises an outcome-based procurement strategy, focusing on delivering value rather than merely reducing costs. This aligns procurement activities with user needs and government priorities. • Market Engagement: The Playbook encourages early engagement with the market, facilitating innovation and collaboration, particularly with SMEs, to harness diverse solutions that meet public sector requirements. • Risk Management: It promotes a balanced approach to risk, ensuring that risks are allocated to those best able to manage them, thereby enhancing project resilience and sustainability. • Continuous Improvement: The DDaT framework supports iterative testing and learning, allowing procurement professionals to adapt strategies and improve service delivery over time. • Compliance and Governance: The Playbook sets out clear governance structures and compliance requirements for central government departments and arm's-length bodies, ensuring transparency and accountability in procurement activities. • Cyber Security and Legacy IT: It includes specific guidelines on cyber security and addressing legacy IT issues, which are critical for safeguarding public data and enhancing operational resilience.