Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 27
27
Accepted
Public sector digital leadership found inadequate, DSIT to mandate roles and publish roadmap.
Recommendation
We challenged DSIT and the Cabinet Office on the scale of the challenge and whether the public sector would be able to grasp the opportunities offered by AI. DSIT told us that it had to be self–critical about digital leadership across government, observing that digital leaders are not well represented at executive level across the public sector and many public sector leaders do not have enough technical expertise or training.70 As part of its blueprint for modern digital government, it will require all executive teams and boards of public sector bodies to include a digital leader by 2026.71 Later this year, DSIT also intends to publish a new Digital and AI roadmap for Government, which will set out the detailed projects underpinning the vision set out in the blueprint.72 66 Q 7 67 Q 7 68 Q 7 69 Q 49 70 Q 23 71 Q 27; DSIT, A blueprint for modern digital government, January 2025, p 24 72 Q 32 18
Government Response Summary
The government is introducing a requirement for all executive committees to include digital leaders and for boards to appoint digital non-executive directors by 2026, refining the Government Digital and Data Pay Framework and Capability Framework, and developing talent pipelines through initiatives such as TechTrack, the AI Accelerator, and the Digital Secondments Programme.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: March 2026 3.2 DSIT acknowledges the ongoing digital skills gaps across the public sector and is taking active steps to implement reforms that address this challenge. 3.3 To strengthen leadership and invest in talent, the government is introducing a requirement for all executive committees to include digital leaders and for boards to appoint digital non-executive directors by 2026. The role of the Government Chief Digital Officer has also been elevated to increase strategic influence over key decisions. 3.4 Further action to attract, retain, and develop digital and data talent is being taken through the refinement of the Government Digital and Data Pay Framework and Capability Framework. 3.5 To support long-term workforce planning, talent pipelines are being developed and cross-sector skills exchange encouraged through initiatives such as TechTrack, the AI Accelerator, and the Digital Secondments Programme. 3.6 The impact of these initiatives will be monitored and evaluated through the Workforce Commission’s bi-annual reporting, the Senior Civil Service Benchmarking Tool, and ongoing workforce data collection. Transparency will be maintained through public reporting, including updates on digital leadership appointments, publication of Workforce Commission outputs (where appropriate), and the launch of major programmes such as TechTrack. 3.7 Further detail on these measures will be set out in the forthcoming Government Digital and AI Roadmap.