Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Accepted
Update committee on Algorithmic Transparency Standard compliance and high-risk AI spend controls.
Conclusion
Public trust is being jeopardised by slow progress on embedding transparency and establishing robust standards for AI adoption in the public sector. Public confidence that the AI technology used by government is fair, accurate, secure and safe is key to successful adoption. Transparency is fundamental to building that trust but as at January 2025, only 33 records had been published on the government website set up to provide greater transparency on algorithm–assisted decision making in the public sector. Some 67% of government bodies responding to the NAO’s survey said that support from the centre of government in fostering public trust in AI was very important. DSIT acknowledges that it has more to do to communicate effectively with the public and to be ‘demonstrably trustworthy’. Its work to strengthen its digital and data spend controls for high–risk AI and develop technical standards and guidelines must be progressed quickly to build public confidence that AI adoption by public sector bodies is safe and responsible. recommendation DSIT should write to the committee in six months to update us on: • Departmental compliance with the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard and further action it is taking to tackle gaps in transparency to strengthen public trust, including to address public concerns over data privacy and the sharing of sensitive data. • How its strengthened spend controls for high–risk AI use cases will support safe and ethical AI roll–out
Government Response Summary
The government has updated internal guidance for AI spend assurance, with spend controls now checking Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS) compliance, and DSIT will provide an update in Autumn 2025 on further changes to spend assurance and service assessments.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. ensure that products and services that leverage AI are identified, GDS has also updated internal guidance for DSIT officials assuring AI spend. The spend control assurance of all Digital spend above thresholds that’s flagged as “AI” now checks for compliance with Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS). Further work is underway to develop an approach to assuring delivery on the back of that spend during digital service assessment exercises. An update will be provided in the Autumn by DSIT on any further changes to spend assurance, along with the changes introduced into service assessments as well. These initiatives will be part of the Government Digital and AI roadmap, planned to be published in Autumn 2025.