Committee to examine plans for the new Government Digital Service
The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee will question former government officials and public service experts in the first evidence session of its inquiry into the Digital Centre of Government.
This inquiry will scrutinise the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology’s (DSIT) plans and approach to the new Government Digital Service (GDS), what its priorities should be, and the opportunities it could offer for public services.
Meeting details
In the first panel, the cross-party committee will hear from former government officials on their experience of public sector digital transformation and their views on the proposed remit of the GDS. Members could ask about proposed Kickstarter initiatives for the GDS (including a new GOV.UK App and GOV.UK chatbot), the GDS’ planned ‘tell us once’ approach to data services, and next steps for the Digital Centre.
In the second panel, MPs will question public services researchers. Questions may focus on the public’s attitudes towards the digital transformation of public services and the delivery of digital inclusion. They may also ask about what lessons the new GDS should learn from the roll-out of new digital services elsewhere, about challenges to cross-government digital transformation, and how to evaluate the success of the Digital Centre.
Ahead of the main evidence session, the committee will hear from South Devon University Technical College and Education Southwest in a short slot as part of its showcase of UK innovators.