Articles

While James Bond relies on Q for his gadgets, Britain’s armed forces use the MoD’s Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory. Its chief executive Jonathan Lyle talks to Joshua Chambers about DSTL’s work

The UK has long had a strong space industry but, until recently, government support for it was small-scale and fragmented. David Parker, UK Space Agency chief executive, tells Joshua Chambers how things have changed.

In a rare public appearance at Civil Service Live earlier this month a GCHQ official warned civil servants about IT security. Joshua Chambers listened in

Though their origins lie in military applications, drones are increasingly being used in a civilian context. Winnie Agbonlahor reports on how the public sector might capitalise on the opportunities around unmanned aircraft.

Aeronautics are a good example of a new form of partnership between government and industry. Suzannah Brecknell looks at the levers which can enable Whitehall and business to effectively work togeth

The Cybermen may have nearly defeated Dr Who, but today’s good guys face an even more formidable foe in the shape of cyber criminals. Tim Gibson reports on a round table held to identify the civil service’s sonic screwdrivers.

Under the coalition’s open data agenda, the trading funds are being encouraged to release more information without charge. But if they give away their biggest asset for free, how can they earn a living? Winnie Agbonlahor reports.

Decision-making in government has suffered since the loss of its chief social scientist in 2010, according to outgoing chief scientific adviser Sir John Beddington, who this week called for the post to be restored.

The government is not properly supporting technology entrepreneurs, the Commons’ Science and Technology Committee has warned.

When John Beddington became the government’s chief scientific adviser, many departments didn’t employ an influential science champion. But now, he tells Colin Marrs, the quality of science is on the rise across Whitehall

As councils take control of public health budgets and staff, the government’s chief medical officer Sally Davies tells Matt Ross why the reforms should enable all kinds of public officials to help take the pressure off the NHS

The government says that boosting our high-tech industries is key to getting the country’s economy moving again. But do its deeds match its words? Jess Bowie examines Whitehall’s work to support innovative businesses.

John Hirst

Chief Executive, Met Office

The Open Data Institute, set to launch next month, aims to turn digital information into economic growth. Matt Ross meets its chief Gavin Starks, who sees data as the raw material for an important new British primary industry

The seven departments with the biggest online services must start redesigning their transaction systems by April 2013 – improving service quality, and ensuring that websites meet a new set of standards – while all other departments must publish a basic plan by the end of December to move their services to a “digital by default basis”, the government announced in its digital strategy last week. It also said that departments must ensure that people without access to the internet can continue to use public services.

As government departments and agencies embrace the use of websites in public service delivery, Joshua Chambers reports on an online debate about the challenges involved in improving Whitehall’s digital skills.

The government’s online safety initiative, Get Safe Online, is to receive a further £400,000 of funding in a bid to improve the UK’s knowledge of cyber-security threats.

The government is keen to give away public data in an effort to stimulate private business. But Ordnance Survey chief executive Vanessa Lawrence tells Joshua Chambers that it must also guard the golden egg-laying goose

Government must remember the cost of gathering public sector data before it gives it away in its ‘open data’ initiative, Ordnance Survey (OS) chief executive Vanessa Lawrence has told CSW.

The recently published Cabinet Office tender to procure digital identity assurance (IDA) services for the DWP is to be used across the whole of government, Mike Bracken, executive director of digital at the Cabinet Office has said.

After nearly 22 months, the Commons select committees’ first elected chairs have had plenty of time to size up their Whitehall counterparts. Joshua Chambers asked them how the departments they watch have been performing

An online platform through which public sector organisations can purchase software was launched on Sunday.

Departmental select committee chairs have provided mixed reviews of the departments they scrutinise for a Civil Service World Special Report, which has found that 40 per cent of them are dissatisfied with departments’ responses to their reports.

Martha Lane Fox, the government’s online access tsar, got a shock last week when No 10 axed her planned digital services unit. But she’s already busy trying to catch people’s interest in web access, she tells Anthony Alexander