Contact-tracing success rate drops
Data shows declines in the proportion of both confirmed cases and their contacts being reached by tracers
Norway suspends ‘deeply intrusive’ contact-tracing app and deletes all existing data
The country’s data-protection authority has placed a ban on the collection of information via...
DWP’s ‘serious IT challenges’ pegged as key cause of disparity in benefits system during coronavirus crisis
Chair of arm’s-length body praises government response but identifies lower payments for...
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Don’t fear the robots – tech automation to have less impact on public sector jobs, report claims
Study from Nesta and Oxford University predicts that the civil service and wider public sector will see fewer jobs lost to automation than other industries
Think tank calls for urgent review of how blockchain could help – and hinder – police
The Police Foundation identifies various potential benefits and challenges of distributed-ledger technology
Leeds and Liverpool join Limerick and Las Vegas as signatories to smart-city manifesto
Global communications industry association gets wide range of public and private entities to sign up to 10-point plan
First trusts to adopt digital hospital-appointment booking unveiled as deadline looms to ditch paper system
Sherwood Forest and County Durham and Darlington trusts lead the way
Attorney general to examine risks of ‘trial by social media’
Jeremy Wright unveils call for evidence after instances of online commentary obstructing the application of justice
Digital chief lifts lid on how HMRC pulled off the biggest tax change in 70 years without anyone noticing
Interim CDIO Mike Potter also discusses how the department is leading the way on mobile apps and blockchain, and why he wants a tax service built around life events
All-male committee would be harmful to science
Sarah Main of the Campaign for Science and Engineering urges parliament to recognise its responsibility in serving as a figurehead for scientific debate
Foreign Office works with GDS to revamp digital services for UK citizens abroad
Government creates 229 dedicated pages for services in individual countries and streamlines embassy sites
Introducing the Harris T7 – the MoD’s new £1m bomb-disposal robot
Ministry announces major deal to acquire 56 specialised machines
GDS puts up £100k-a-head bounty for duo of deputy directors
Organisation wants senior execs for delivery and product
Most hospitals still reliant on hundreds of pagers
Report finds 93% of increasingly outdated devices still active in the UK are owned by hospitals
Accessibility for all
Nick Bauer of Gloucestershire County Council writes an account of the authority’s drive to make public transport more accessible for all travellers
Highways England looks to wearable tech to ‘monitor location and wellbeing’ of staff
Motorway workers set to be equipped with ‘discreet, robust, and lightweight’ piece of kit
British Library mulls creation of single digital presence for all UK libraries
British Library, the Carnegie UK Trust and Arts Council England to consider whether an "interactive and engaging platform" for all UK libraries is possible
DCMS launches wide-ranging audit of UK's digital specialists
Recently-rebadged digital department asks businesses: where are your digital skills gaps?
£110k up for grabs as Home Office seeks leader in disaggregation drive
Department says new Technology Platforms for Tomorrow chief will have “huge impact across the culture of the Home Office”
Sadiq Khan appoints Camden councillor as London’s first chief digital officer
Theo Blackwell joins Greater London Authority with 20 years’ experience working in technology
Kew Gardens wants IT leader for ‘transformational improvements to technology services’
World-famous botanic gardens offering £70,000 for new head of IT infrastructure
HMRC admits thousands hit by technical issues on free childcare website
Chief executive Jon Thompson says government will still deliver free childcare to 200,000 households by end of August
Three things UK cities can do right now to become smarter
Melanie Pittham of digital transformation specialists The BIO Agency outlines the key considerations in transforming cities for the benefit of citizens
Civil service seeks ‘leaders of the future’ with four-year scheme for aspiring digital professionals
The DDaT Fast Stream scheme will involve placements in up to six government departments