Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of civil service roles in the Commercial and Procurement Profession are vacant as of 28 March 2024.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Government Commercial Organisation, is the employer of senior commercial professionals (at Grade 7 and above) within the Government Commercial Function. There are currently 101 vacancies within the Government Commercial Organisation against a budgeted headcount of 1649. This vacancy rate of 6.1% is similar to the 2023 Civil Service vacancy rate of 6.2%.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the policy paper entitled Transforming for a digital future: 2022 to 2025 roadmap for digital and data, updated on 29 November 2023, what progress his Department has made on the development of a common mobile app strategy, framework and technical standards.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) has convened discussions with Chief Digital and Information Officers and Chief Technology Officers from across government to identify key principles and guardrails for the mobile app strategy. The strategy will be finalised next year, as set out in the 2022 to 2025 roadmap for digital and data.
Alongside this, the Government Digital Service (GDS) is developing a GOV.UK App that builds upon the success of the existing GOV.UK One Login identity checking app, which has been downloaded over 5.7 million times.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the policy paper entitled Transforming for a digital future: 2022 to 2025 roadmap for digital and data, updated on 29 November 2023, whether he will publish the Government Digital and Data Pay Framework.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Digital and Data Pay Framework is being revalorised to meet market trends for Digital and Data roles, ensuring the Government can attract the right talent for critical roles. It is an internal framework for government use that is not intended to be published externally to protect market sensitivities. 35 organisations have adopted the framework. This is shared directly with their Pay and Reward teams.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the rate of cloud adoption for each Government Department as of 27 March 2024.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) in the Cabinet Office continues to work with departments to promote the best practice adoption of public cloud services, in accordance with Government Cloud First policy that has been extant since 2013. This was refreshed by CDDO in 2023.
The requested information relating to specific departmental adoption rates of public cloud is not currently centrally held.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of full-time equivalent civil service roles other than Senior Civil Service were located outside London in each quarter from Q2 2020 to Q3 2023.
Answered by John Glen
Information on the number of roles, including those vacant, is not available centrally. Only the number of employees ‘in post’ is available.
The number and proportion of full-time equivalent civil servants employed and located in London and outside London between Q1 (March) 2020 and Q3 (September) 2023 is available in Table 1 below, and the number excluding ‘SCS level’ employees can be found in Table 2 below. This data refers to the number of employees ‘in post’ at each reference date. Information for Q2 (June) 2020 is not centrally available. Data has, therefore, been provided for Q1 (March) and Q3 (September) 2020.
Table 1: Number of Civil Servants in London and Outside London, Q1 (Mar) 2020 to Q3 (Sep) 2023
Period | London (FTE) | Outside London (FTE) | Location not reported/ Known (FTE) | Total (FTE) | % FTE Outside London (where location known) |
Q1 (Mar) 2020 | 87,815 | 332,525 | 3,430 | 423,775 | 79.1% |
Q3 (Sep) 2020 | 89,680 | 335,665 | 5,445 | 430,785 | 78.9% |
Q4 (Dec) 2020 | 95,460 | 342,480 | 3,465 | 441,405 | 78.2% |
Q1 (Mar) 2021 | 98,000 | 351,185 | 3,645 | 452,830 | 78.2% |
Q2 (Jun) 2021 | 99,550 | 355,210 | 10,260 | 465,015 | 78.1% |
Q3 (Sep) 2021 | 100,015 | 362,635 | 9,880 | 472,530 | 78.4% |
Q4 (Dec) 2021 | 101,840 | 369,550 | 4,085 | 475,475 | 78.4% |
Q1 (Mar) 2022 | 100,955 | 373,895 | 3,235 | 478,085 | 78.7% |
Q2 (Jun) 2022 | 100,130 | 375,215 | 3,235 | 478,580 | 78.9% |
Q3 (Sep) 2022 | 99,800 | 378,160 | 2,950 | 480,915 | 79.1% |
Q4 (Dec) 2022 | 100,230 | 380,550 | 2,825 | 483,610 | 79.2% |
Q1 (Mar) 2023 | 99,790 | 385,220 | 2,660 | 487,665 | 79.4% |
Q2 (Jun) 2023 | 99,405 | 387,500 | 2,505 | 489,410 | 79.6% |
Q3 (Sep) 2023 | 100.570 | 392,955 | 2,585 | 496,110 | 79.6% |
Sources and notes:
March 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023: Annual Civil Service Employment Survey, Cabinet Office
September/December/June 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023: Quarterly Location Survey, Cabinet Office
Figures include where grade is unknown/unreported
Outside London includes civil servants located overseas.
The increase in unreported location at Q2 and Q3 2021 is mainly attributable to around 7,000 Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) staff being transferred into MOJ (HMPPS) in late June 2021, with the majority being reported with an unknown location at Q2 and Q3 2021.
Table 2: Number of Civil Servants (excluding SCS level) in London and Outside London, Q1 (Mar) 2020 to Q3 (Sep) 2023
Period | London (FTE) | Outside London (FTE) | Location not reported/ Known (FTE) | Total (FTE) | % FTE Outside London (where location known) |
Q1 (Mar) 2020 | 83,810 | 330,320 | 3,415 | 417,545 | 79.8% |
Q3 (Sep) 2020 | 85,585 | 333,510 | 5,165 | 424,255 | 79.6% |
Q4 (Dec) 2020 | 91,065 | 340,075 | 3,450 | 434,590 | 78.9% |
Q1 (Mar) 2021 | 93,475 | 348,680 | 3,620 | 445,775 | 78.9% |
Q2 (Jun) 2021 | 95,185 | 352,810 | 10,240 | 458,235 | 78.8% |
Q3 (Sep) 2021 | 95,630 | 360,130 | 9,850 | 465,610 | 79.0% |
Q4 (Dec) 2021 | 97,445 | 366.765 | 4,045 | 468,250 | 79.0% |
Q1 (Mar) 2022 | 96,625 | 371,250 | 3,215 | 471,090 | 79.3% |
Q2 (Jun) 2022 | 95,840 | 372,525 | 3,210 | 471,580 | 79.5% |
Q3 (Sep) 2022 | 95,355 | 375,315 | 2,925 | 473,600 | 79.7% |
Q4 (Dec) 2022 | 96,000 | 377,780 | 2,810 | 476,590 | 79.7% |
Q1 (Mar) 2023 | 95,530 | 382,355 | 2,645 | 480,525 | 80.0% |
Q2 (Jun) 2023 | 95,200 | 384,615 | 2,490 | 482,305 | 80.2% |
Q3 (Sep) 2023 | 96,335 | 390,070 | 2,570 | 488,980 | 80.2% |
Sources and notes:
March 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023: Annual Civil Service Employment Survey, Cabinet Office
September/December/June 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023: Quarterly Location Survey, Cabinet Office
Figures include where grade is unknown/unreported.
Outside London includes civil servants located overseas.
The increase in unreported location at Q2 and Q3 2021 is mainly attributable to around 7,000 Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) staff being transferred into MOJ (HMPPS) in late June 2021 and with the majority of them not being reported with a known location at Q2 and Q3 2021.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of full-time equivalent civil service roles were located outside London in each quarter from Q2 2020 to Q3 2023.
Answered by John Glen
Information on the number of roles, including those vacant, is not available centrally. Only the number of employees ‘in post’ is available.
The number and proportion of full-time equivalent civil servants employed and located in London and outside London between Q1 (March) 2020 and Q3 (September) 2023 is available in Table 1 below, and the number excluding ‘SCS level’ employees can be found in Table 2 below. This data refers to the number of employees ‘in post’ at each reference date. Information for Q2 (June) 2020 is not centrally available. Data has, therefore, been provided for Q1 (March) and Q3 (September) 2020.
Table 1: Number of Civil Servants in London and Outside London, Q1 (Mar) 2020 to Q3 (Sep) 2023
Period | London (FTE) | Outside London (FTE) | Location not reported/ Known (FTE) | Total (FTE) | % FTE Outside London (where location known) |
Q1 (Mar) 2020 | 87,815 | 332,525 | 3,430 | 423,775 | 79.1% |
Q3 (Sep) 2020 | 89,680 | 335,665 | 5,445 | 430,785 | 78.9% |
Q4 (Dec) 2020 | 95,460 | 342,480 | 3,465 | 441,405 | 78.2% |
Q1 (Mar) 2021 | 98,000 | 351,185 | 3,645 | 452,830 | 78.2% |
Q2 (Jun) 2021 | 99,550 | 355,210 | 10,260 | 465,015 | 78.1% |
Q3 (Sep) 2021 | 100,015 | 362,635 | 9,880 | 472,530 | 78.4% |
Q4 (Dec) 2021 | 101,840 | 369,550 | 4,085 | 475,475 | 78.4% |
Q1 (Mar) 2022 | 100,955 | 373,895 | 3,235 | 478,085 | 78.7% |
Q2 (Jun) 2022 | 100,130 | 375,215 | 3,235 | 478,580 | 78.9% |
Q3 (Sep) 2022 | 99,800 | 378,160 | 2,950 | 480,915 | 79.1% |
Q4 (Dec) 2022 | 100,230 | 380,550 | 2,825 | 483,610 | 79.2% |
Q1 (Mar) 2023 | 99,790 | 385,220 | 2,660 | 487,665 | 79.4% |
Q2 (Jun) 2023 | 99,405 | 387,500 | 2,505 | 489,410 | 79.6% |
Q3 (Sep) 2023 | 100.570 | 392,955 | 2,585 | 496,110 | 79.6% |
Sources and notes:
March 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023: Annual Civil Service Employment Survey, Cabinet Office
September/December/June 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023: Quarterly Location Survey, Cabinet Office
Figures include where grade is unknown/unreported
Outside London includes civil servants located overseas.
The increase in unreported location at Q2 and Q3 2021 is mainly attributable to around 7,000 Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) staff being transferred into MOJ (HMPPS) in late June 2021, with the majority being reported with an unknown location at Q2 and Q3 2021.
Table 2: Number of Civil Servants (excluding SCS level) in London and Outside London, Q1 (Mar) 2020 to Q3 (Sep) 2023
Period | London (FTE) | Outside London (FTE) | Location not reported/ Known (FTE) | Total (FTE) | % FTE Outside London (where location known) |
Q1 (Mar) 2020 | 83,810 | 330,320 | 3,415 | 417,545 | 79.8% |
Q3 (Sep) 2020 | 85,585 | 333,510 | 5,165 | 424,255 | 79.6% |
Q4 (Dec) 2020 | 91,065 | 340,075 | 3,450 | 434,590 | 78.9% |
Q1 (Mar) 2021 | 93,475 | 348,680 | 3,620 | 445,775 | 78.9% |
Q2 (Jun) 2021 | 95,185 | 352,810 | 10,240 | 458,235 | 78.8% |
Q3 (Sep) 2021 | 95,630 | 360,130 | 9,850 | 465,610 | 79.0% |
Q4 (Dec) 2021 | 97,445 | 366.765 | 4,045 | 468,250 | 79.0% |
Q1 (Mar) 2022 | 96,625 | 371,250 | 3,215 | 471,090 | 79.3% |
Q2 (Jun) 2022 | 95,840 | 372,525 | 3,210 | 471,580 | 79.5% |
Q3 (Sep) 2022 | 95,355 | 375,315 | 2,925 | 473,600 | 79.7% |
Q4 (Dec) 2022 | 96,000 | 377,780 | 2,810 | 476,590 | 79.7% |
Q1 (Mar) 2023 | 95,530 | 382,355 | 2,645 | 480,525 | 80.0% |
Q2 (Jun) 2023 | 95,200 | 384,615 | 2,490 | 482,305 | 80.2% |
Q3 (Sep) 2023 | 96,335 | 390,070 | 2,570 | 488,980 | 80.2% |
Sources and notes:
March 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023: Annual Civil Service Employment Survey, Cabinet Office
September/December/June 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023: Quarterly Location Survey, Cabinet Office
Figures include where grade is unknown/unreported.
Outside London includes civil servants located overseas.
The increase in unreported location at Q2 and Q3 2021 is mainly attributable to around 7,000 Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) staff being transferred into MOJ (HMPPS) in late June 2021 and with the majority of them not being reported with a known location at Q2 and Q3 2021.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which legacy IT systems across Government were identified as red-rated by the Central Digital and Data Office.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
It would be inappropriate to release sensitive information held about specific red-rated systems within departmental IT estates, or information that could allow the assumption of which systems are at risk, as it could highlight potential security weaknesses.
The Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO), in the Cabinet Office, has established a programme to support departments in treating legacy. CDDO has agreed a framework to identify ‘red-rated’ systems, indicating high levels of risk surrounding assets. Departments have committed to have remediation plans in place for these systems by next year.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people verified their identity for GOV.UK One Login by (a) using the GOV.UK ID Check app, (b) answering security questions online and (c) visiting a Post Office in each month between August 2023 and March 2024.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Between 1 August 2023 and 26 March 2024, the number of users who successfully verified their identity through GOV.UK One Login is as follows:
| Aug ‘23 | Sep ‘23 | Oct ‘23 | Nov ‘23 | Dec ‘23 | Jan ‘24 | Feb ‘24 | Mar ‘24 | Total |
GOV.UK ID Check App | 205,864 | 204,652 | 217,962 | 214,731 | 183,075 | 342,315 | 258,010 | 217,006 | 1,843,615 |
Web browser route, with security questions | 7,009 | 5,938 | 6,687 | 9,297 | 5,944 | 12,116 | 4,174 | 2,636 | 53,801 |
In-person at the Post Office | 124 | 511 | 544 | 1,008 | 775 | 1,700 | 2,274 | 1,620 | 8,556 |
The public expects quick, secure and user-friendly access to government services. Previously, UK citizens and residents needed to grapple with multiple sign-in methods and identity verification routes when using government services online.
GOV.UK One Login is replacing these duplicative systems across government with a single account and identity checking system. This will make it easier for users to access the services they need, reduce costs to government, and provide stronger protections against fraud.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the Government has spent on in-person identity checks for GOV.UK One Login identity verification as of 26 March 2024.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
GOV.UK One Login’s face-to-face identity verification route went live on 25 July 2023. The Government Digital Service has, as of 26 March 2024, spent £778,064 on the contract with the Post Office to set up and undertake in-person identity checks.
The public expects quick, secure and user-friendly access to government services. Previously, UK citizens and residents needed to grapple with multiple sign-in methods and identity verification routes when using government services online.
GOV.UK One Login is replacing these duplicative systems across government with a single account and identity checking system. This will make it easier for users to access the services they need, reduce costs to government, and provide stronger protections against fraud.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have contacted the gov.uk One Login customer support centre (a) by phone and (b) via the online contact form in the 2023-24 financial year.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The GOV.UK One Login customer support centre went live on 31 October 2023. Between that date and 25 March 2024 (inclusive), it has handled a total of 21,623 support calls and managed 12,585 support requests via online forms and emails.
From 16 April 2024, users will also have the option of using WebChat to seek support.
The public expects quick, secure and user-friendly access to government services. Previously, UK citizens and residents needed to grapple with multiple sign-in methods and identity verification routes when using government services online.
GOV.UK One Login is replacing these duplicative systems across government with a single account and identity checking system. This will make it easier for users to access the services they need, reduce costs to government, and provide stronger protections against fraud.