Whitehall’s top official admits need to improve civil service technical skills
Simon Case claims government has improved data handling and support for innovation but there is more to do
Government data-sharing blueprints to be introduced by end of FY22
New governance framework is currently being assessed across government
‘Work from home where possible’ – Northern Ireland updates Covid advice
Ministers issue statement aimed at ‘strengthening the message’ on mitigations for virus...
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Reforms will allow civil service to ‘respond faster and better to the needs of the public’, PM claims
Boris Johnson tells select committee that pandemic response has shown ‘there are some times when we need to move faster’
‘Unless you get the ethics of data right, you'll fail on the effectiveness as well’
The head of the Royal Statistical Society Stian Westlake talks algorithms, politicians and the current ‘favourable wind’ gathering in government behind his profession
National Data Strategy promises to ‘tackle government culture of risk-aversion’
Document sets out ‘transforming government’s use of data’ as one of five missions
Home Office tightens measures to prevent ‘political’ social media posts
Department installs ‘extra checks’ on civil servants’ tweets after reference to ‘activist lawyers’
Government floats £1.4m social-media analytics deal to identify ‘key influencers’ to support Covid messaging
Comms service looks for analytics to identify target audiences
Whitehall workforce stats: Which departments are expanding and which are shrinking?
Some ministries shed almost 5,000 people in FY20 while others grew headcount substantially, data shows
‘Fair and open’ hiring process pledged for government digital chief after concerns over Amazon head’s role on selection panel
Government claims using sector expertise is commonplace for the most senior roles
GDS reviews GOV.UK exemptions
As government’s online infrastructure becomes more sophisticated, digital agency says there is ‘less of a case’ for organisations to use alternative platforms
Fiona Deans to take over as leader of GDS
Chief operating officer to take interim charge as director general Alison Pritchard joins ONS
Better call Maude – former minister drafted in to review Cabinet Office
Minister who oversaw procurement revamp and creation of GDS gets a second shot at driving Whitehall reform
MPs tell ICO to ‘stop sitting on its hands’ and act on government data-protection lapses
Cross-party group of parliamentarians issues challenge to regulator
Cabinet Office floats £2m short-term contract to address ‘weaknesses’ in data-handling
Department seeks commercial support in meeting targets set out in independent review
Hancock vows to ‘double down on huge advances’ made in NHS use of tech during coronavirus crisis
Health secretary says recent events have shown both patients and medical staff ‘want to use technology’
Cummings and Co to move into Cabinet Office hub with ‘real-time performance data’
A number of senior Downing Street figures are to be given space at the central department’s HQ at 70 Whitehall
Scottish Government backtracks on exam grading
Pupils grades will be decided on teacher’s judgement after widespread criticism of impact of ‘deprivation algorithm’
Recruitment of government CDIO ‘still ongoing’, Cabinet Office claims
Applications for newly created perm sec-level position closed more than 10 months ago, since when updates have been scarce
Government claims digital imprints will make online campaigning ‘more transparent’
Cabinet Office launches technical consultation on new proposals
Scottish Parliament green lights remote voting and hybrid meetings
Holyrood to allow members to use technology to vote and attend meetings
‘The civil service needs to modernise’ – departing Whitehall chief urges officials to engage with ‘substance’ of Cummings reform plans
Mark Sedwill says equipping government with ‘more expertise… is a good thing’
PM insists Test and Trace system ‘world-beating’
Labour supports possible creation of local schemes
GDS annual programmes cost £5m less than expected
Cabinet Office annual report shows digital agency also brought in more than £2m in extra revenue