The government must avoid creating a destabilised culture in Whitehall Exclusive
06 May Digital, Data & Technology

The government must avoid creating a destabilised culture in Whitehall

While our friends across the Atlantic favour the ostentatious and outrageous when it comes to tackling inefficiency, we must take a different approach
by Simon Hoare
Departments have underestimated threat posed by cyberattacks, MPs warn
13 May Digital, Data & Technology
Departments have underestimated threat posed by cyberattacks, MPs warn
Fact checker defends ex-perm sec over pension-reform claims
13 May Digital, Data & Technology
Fact checker defends ex-perm sec over pension-reform claims
Agentic AI ‘could boost government productivity by 20-30%’, former lead NED says
09 May Digital, Data & Technology
Agentic AI ‘could boost government productivity by 20-30%’, former lead NED says
Dinosaurs, data and digital policy: What are the woolly mammoths in the room?
08 May Digital, Data & Technology
Dinosaurs, data and digital policy: What are the woolly mammoths in the room?
Doug Gurr, newly appointed interim chair of the CMA and director of the Natural History Museum, warns that the UK is missing out on the fruits of scientific research
Scottish civil servants told not to discuss policy with ChatGPT
08 May Digital, Data & Technology
Scottish civil servants told not to discuss policy with ChatGPT
Staff warned to avoid sharing government policy details when using generative AI tools
DSIT seeks 25 Britain’s ‘best and brightest’ for one-year secondments
07 May Digital, Data & Technology
DSIT seeks 25 Britain’s ‘best and brightest’ for one-year secondments
Fellows will gain “rare access to government decision-making, professional development, and powerful cross-sector networks”
DBT seeks watchdog's advice on £136m Post Office subsidy to replace Horizon IT system
01 May Digital, Data & Technology
DBT seeks watchdog's advice on £136m Post Office subsidy to replace Horizon IT system
Department has proposed giving the public corporation significant funding to deliver ongoing tech upgrade work this year in support of eventual migration from Fujitsu platform
HMRC labelled 'lumbering dinosaur' and urged to modernise systems
30 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
HMRC labelled 'lumbering dinosaur' and urged to modernise systems
PAC report finds rising costs of tax compliance and outdated systems have damaged trust in HMRC
Software update: What's new in the 'new GDS'?
29 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
Software update: What's new in the 'new GDS'?
After signalling its intention to revamp government’s core digital operations, the new administration has now set out detailed plans for doing so – while keeping Whitehall’s most recognisable tech brand in play
Nearly 300 DfT civil servants to leave under voluntary exit scheme
23 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
Nearly 300 DfT civil servants to leave under voluntary exit scheme
Exit scheme “part of us beginning to get smaller, and we expect that to continue”, second perm sec says
Ex-soldier jailed over £900k MoD fraud
16 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
Ex-soldier jailed over £900k MoD fraud
Five former colleagues escape custody over scam targeting online administration system
MPs back Tom Adeyoola for Innovate UK executive chair
16 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
MPs back Tom Adeyoola for Innovate UK executive chair
Entrepreneur gets select-committee thumbs up to lead tech-funding agency for £215k a year
'Generative AI is not the solution to every problem': Survey reveals officials' 'misconceptions' about AI
14 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
'Generative AI is not the solution to every problem': Survey reveals officials' 'misconceptions' about AI
GDS research finds many civil servants continue to associate artificial intelligence solely with generative tools
Growing digital profession will help government shed 7,000 contractors, Little tells MPs
11 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
Growing digital profession will help government shed 7,000 contractors, Little tells MPs
Hitting target for 10% of civil servants to be digital, data and cyber professionals will save half a billion pounds a year, COO says
‘Minimise environmental impact’: Guidance for government digital services updated
09 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
‘Minimise environmental impact’: Guidance for government digital services updated
Addition to Government Design Principles is the first in 13 years
PM acknowledges ‘risks’ with increased use of AI in government
09 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
PM acknowledges ‘risks’ with increased use of AI in government
Starmer tells MPs downsides of technology must be balanced against “huge opportunities”
Food Standards Agency triumphs at regulation awards
04 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
Food Standards Agency triumphs at regulation awards
NHS Health Research Authority and Information Commissioner's Office also collect major accolades
As the Freedom of Information Act turns 20, can it outwit the delete button?
03 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
As the Freedom of Information Act turns 20, can it outwit the delete button?
The positive effects of FoI risk being undermined by private communication channels
Automating ‘routine tasks’ could save £36bn a year, DSIT minister says
02 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
Automating ‘routine tasks’ could save £36bn a year, DSIT minister says
Maggie Jones tells peers a further £10bn in efficiencies will come from migrating services online and strengthening digital compliance
New AI bootcamp to build tech expertise across Whitehall
28 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
New AI bootcamp to build tech expertise across Whitehall
Government data scientists will gain AI specialism through 12-week programme to grow digital capacity and drive efficiency
Tech high fliers join Defra board
26 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
Tech high fliers join Defra board
The environment department has announced the addition of two new non-execs: a pair of senior managers, whose previous postings include Amazon and Sky, as well as Ofcom and Innovate UK
Treasury sets out plans for overhaul of spending and performance data
21 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
Treasury sets out plans for overhaul of spending and performance data
Ministers will be able to access live data showing departmental delivery and financial performance at programme and project level
'Departments won't move fast enough on tech': PM sets out role of No.10 in driving change
17 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
'Departments won't move fast enough on tech': PM sets out role of No.10 in driving change
Starmer says No.10 needs to empower ministers to deliver change at speed
Some frontline professionals reluctant to use AI tools, research finds
14 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
Some frontline professionals reluctant to use AI tools, research finds
Ada Lovelace Institute paper also points to the need for proper evaluation of AI interventions
Plan to overhaul 'overly complex' digital funding models promises 'paradigm shift'
13 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
Plan to overhaul 'overly complex' digital funding models promises 'paradigm shift'
After a review that revealed delays and inefficiencies, government will trial a quartet of mechanisms for staged, portfolio and risk-based funding methods
'We don't want a bigger state': Starmer outlines plans to cut civil service costs
13 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
'We don't want a bigger state': Starmer outlines plans to cut civil service costs
PM says AI is a "golden opportunity" and says he will take on "vast arrays of quangos"
The last thing anyone in a crisis needs is to lose precious hours to admin – government's digital upgrade can change that
12 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
The last thing anyone in a crisis needs is to lose precious hours to admin – government's digital upgrade can change that
A comprehensive overhaul of how government does digital creates an opportunity to give citizens back their time, at the times of their greatest need