Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Acknowledged
Ensure Government Digital and AI Roadmap has clear implementation plan with milestones and metrics.
Conclusion
Realising the benefits of AI across the public sector will require strong leadership from DSIT. Addressing the skills shortage, tackling the persistent issues with poor data quality and out–of–date technology, and providing the support and guardrails the public sector needs to build public trust and adopt AI safely and responsibly all require a clear strategy and strong leadership. In its report, the NAO raised concerns about unclear accountabilities and limited integration of governance across Cabinet 7 Office—which was primarily responsible for AI adoption in the public sector, through CDDO, i.AI and the Government Digital Service (GDS)— and DSIT, which held responsibility for wider AI policy. We welcome the move of CDDO, GDS and i.AI to DSIT in 2024 to create a digital centre of government. This new Government Digital Service, and the proposals in A blueprint for modern digital government to require all executive teams and boards to include a digital leader by 2026, offer an opportunity to strengthen leadership and governance and support digital transformation. However, the scale of the task should not be underestimated and we are seriously concerned whether DSIT has sufficient leverage to drive change across the public sector. One significant way to do this is to ensure that every department and their agencies have a senior Government Digital Service officer embedded at senior management levels in their organisation and agencies to oversee digital policy and procurement change. Equally the relevant procurement and main boards should include people with excellent digital policy and procurement skills. recommendation a. DSIT must ensure that the proposed Government Digital and AI Roadmap is underpinned by a clear implementation plan with: • clear accountabilities at the centre, across government and the wider public sector • delivery milestones to drive change and maintain momentum • metrics to track progress and spend over time, to identify whether further levers
Government Response Summary
The government agrees, stating DSIT is exploring mechanisms to enhance digital expertise and integrate senior digital professionals, aligning with existing intent to require digital leaders on boards and a dotted reporting line to the Government Chief Digital Officer, but does not detail a specific implementation plan for the proposed roadmap itself.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. heart of departmental decision making. This recommendation aligns with the ongoing efforts to strengthen digital leadership across the Civil Service to ensure that the digital transformation is supported by robust commercial and procurement capabilities. DSIT is currently exploring mechanisms to enhance the integration of digital expertise within departments. This includes the work under the Government Digital and Data profession capability framework and exploring models where senior digital and commercial professionals are embedded within departmental leadership teams supporting both strategic planning and delivery. There is a clear need for board-level expertise to ensure that digital and procurement considerations are fully factored into governance, investment and risk decisions. Government’s intent for this is stated in the Blueprint where all public sector organisations will be required to have a digital leader on their executive committee and a digital non-executive director on their board. We also intend to have a dotted reporting line to the Government Chief Digital Officer for Chief Digital Information Officers across central government. This aligns with the wider ambitions to ensure that digital is not seen as a standalone function but as a core enabler to public service delivery.