Digital Strategy Feature Heading
Levelling up with digital The pandemic forced the government to work more quickly to meet policy objectives through the use of digital technologies. In June, the government announced its Transforming for a digital future: 2022 to 2025 roadmap for digital and data policy. Through the use of digital and data, the policy aims to improve government efficiency and help level up the regions
The roadmap was produced by the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) in collaboration with central government departments and digital experts inside and outside of government. It sets out a common cross-government vision for 2025 and includes specific actions that need to be taken to achieve this vision. The minister responsible for the implementation of the policy is Heather Wheeler MP, Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office – the 12th minister to oversee digital government in less than seven years. She was appointed to this role in February, in addition to her role as an Assistant Government Whip, having previously held positions as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. She has been Conservative MP for South Derbyshire since May 2010. Wheeler’s joy Self-proclaimed as being “one up from a Luddite”, Wheeler told Public Technology: “I will struggle to work out where the bit at the back of the computer goes in that does the bit at the front of the computer.” “And I really like using a mouse! I don’t like using that square thing in the middle, with your finger moving it around. So, this has been… [not just about] about transforming civil service: it has been about transforming minister Wheeler! But it’s been a joy – it’s been an absolute joy.” The roadmap is for central government departments and at this stage, is not directly applicable to local government or devolved administrations. The CDDO and the Department
we can see this progress of of Levelling Up, Housing and efficiency in organisations in Communities are working with A the public and private sector local government to help new Di which have become more create alignment with Skills C gital productive after digital these plans by supporting transformation, with reform of local services be crea ouncil will ted, bri the digital services and, where appropriate, t o nging gether and technology they encouraging join up te use running more with central government to addr ch leaders e s efficiently and at lower services. Looking at the s t he current cost. Improving digitally policy, there are areas that digital enabled ways of working could be rolled out to local skills ga p is part of the government’s government, but with the levelling up strategy, as it will recent wave of resignations, enable Civil Service jobs to move with the Levelling Up department to different locations across the UK, particularly hard hit, it is not clear when and not just be focussed in London and the this will happen. South East. The policy claims that a smarter, As the policy itself notes, previous strategies more efficient digital government will help grow have been lacking in specificity, crossBritain’s digital economy and attract talent from government endorsement, clear lines of around the world and digital services will enable accountability and business ownership. As a people in the UK to access the information and result, previous programmes have not delivered services they need, allowing the UK to reclaim its results and have been shut down. position as a world leader in digital government. Policy goals Environmental benefits The policy explains that government ambitions The policy also claims that improving such as Net Zero and Levelling up could be digitisation of government will have a positive delivered more effectively through wider use environmental impact and lead to lower carbon of digital and data. In this context, “digital” footprints with more efficient services, less need refers to a technology-enabled way of working for face-to-face meetings and less use of paper. using modern tools, techniques and capabilities, Another listed benefit of the policy is improved whilst “data” refers to digital information about cyber security, as government organisations people, things and systems. are a prime target for cyber attacks. Successful According to the policy, improving the use attacks on government departments can disrupt of digital and data will enable government to services, steal data or spread misinformation. operate more efficiently. As the use of digital Some government departments have already and data has improved greatly in many fields started investing in digital technology. E over the last two years due to the pandemic, www.governmentbusiness.co.uk | BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR LOCAL AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
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