Today the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee launches
its inquiry into plans for a
digital centre of government.
The new Government Digital Service is a unit within the
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) which
will co-ordinate and deliver the government's digital
transformation and services/public sector digital
reform.
This inquiry follows DSIT's publication of reviews in January
into how the digital centre will be structured, cross-government
digital capability, and an AI Opportunities Action Plan. These
contained recommendations related to the government's digital
centre agenda and are intended to shape DSIT's future work on
it.
The committee will examine DSIT's plans and approach to the
digital centre of government, focusing on a number of
forward-looking case studies. It will examine the department's
priorities for the centre, and the opportunities and challenges
associated with establishing it.
The inquiry will consider the three reviews undertaken by DSIT
since the election and its proposed approach to establishing
itself as the digital centre, including the impact of the Data
(Use and Access) Bill.
Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology
Committee, MP, said:
“The Government has set out an ambitious goal
of reforming public services through digital technology to make
them more efficient, personalized and accessible, with DSIT
hosting the new Government Digital Service.
“The UK has implemented some great digital public
infrastructure in the past, such as the creation of GOV.UK.
However, the government has acknowledged that too many digital
services fall short of user expectations and the NAO have said
they almost always fail in terms of cost and timeline. IT
failures such as Horizon Post Office and NHS England's digital
services have dented public trust. There's a real need to
transform government for the digital era and the new Government
Digital Service could achieve this but they must get it
right.
“In this inquiry, the committee will investigate exactly how
to do this. Focusing on a number of forward-looking case studies,
we'll scrutinise how DSIT plans to set up the new Government
Digital Service, the opportunities it could offer for public
services across Government, and what its priorities should
be.
“As the government prepares to publish further details of its
plans in the summer, we'll also take a look at potential
challenges the centre could face, like departmental digital
capability, and recommend solutions.”
Terms of reference
The Committee welcomes written submissions on some or all of the
following points by 23:59 on 3 March. You can submit evidence or
find out more here.
· What benefits will a
digital centre offer citizens?
o What benefits will a digital centre deliver to the
UK economy?
o How effectively has the vision for a digital centre
been communicated?
· What should be the
priorities for the digital centre of government?
o Are there any areas of the public sector that are
particularly suited to or in need of digital
transformation?
o Has DSIT identified the right areas of public
services with its initial five ‘kickstarter' tests and
products?
o How should DSIT measure and evaluate the success of
the digital centre?
· What lessons are there for
DSIT as it establishes the digital centre?
o Are there any case studies that the committee
should consider as part of its inquiry?
o What lessons do previous and contemporary digital
transformation initiatives offer for the digital
centre?
o What can the UK learn from other countries'
efforts?
· What assessment can be made
of DSIT's work on establishing the digital centre to
date?
o What technical and policy expertise does DSIT need
to deliver the digital centre?
o Are the technological solutions required for the
digital centre already used by government and other public
bodies? If not, are they available or in development?
o How should DSIT and other public bodies leverage
reforms to public procurement to deliver and operate the digital
centre?
· What are the barriers to
successfully establishing a digital centre of
government?
o How can DSIT address these barriers?
o What infrastructure and regulation is required to
make the government “more digital”?
In addition, the committee welcomes submissions on the following
points:
· What impact will the Data
(Use and Access) Bill have on efforts to establish DSIT as the
digital centre of government?
· How should the National
Data Library proposed by the government be taken
forward?
· How should the digital
centre be delivered in a way that ensures equitable access to
public services
