Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Accepted
DSIT acknowledges more work needed for AI transparency and redress mechanisms.
Recommendation
We asked DSIT for reassurances that there would be sufficient transparency and mechanisms for citizens to challenge AI assisted decisions. It told us that there were provisions in the Data (Use and Access) Bill to allow for redress and challenge in cases of automated decision–making. It also acknowledged that it had more to do to communicate effectively with the public and to be “demonstrably trustworthy” and this was an important area of focus for it in the coming years.29 Actions it told us it is taking include developing technical standards and guidelines, publishing guidance, and strengthening DSIT’s spend controls around the use of high–risk AI. It told us it has a role to play in both providing support and guidance but also in strengthening the “stick” of central assurance and controls given the importance of the issues concerned.30 Digital and data skills and capability
Government Response Summary
DSIT will update the Committee in six months (January 2026) on departmental compliance with the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS) 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.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
2. PAC conclusion: Public trust is being jeopardised by slow progress on embedding transparency and establishing robust standards for AI adoption in the public sector. 2a. PAC 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. 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: January 2026 2.2 DSIT is continuing to implement the mandatory rollout of the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS) in central government and is aiming to publish records for all currently identified in-scope algorithmic tools (as of March 2025) in government departments (not including ALBs) by the end of 2025. A range of activities to evaluate the effectiveness of the published ATRS records at strengthening public trust are planned to take place from summer 2025 and will be included in the Government Digital and AI Roadmap publication. 2b. PAC recommendation: • How its strengthened spend controls for high–risk AI use cases will support safe and ethical AI roll–out. 2.3 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: October 2025 2.4 In addition to the changes already made to the risk and importance framework to 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.