Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Abolition

Lord Empey Excerpts

Wednesday 14th October 2026 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Empey]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what impact the abolition of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will have on overall civil service headcount.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Twycross) (Lab)]

Before answering the noble Lord’s Question, I refer Members to my ministerial declaration of interests. My husband works for the Government Digital Service.

The redistribution of the function of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is independent of decisions on overall Civil Service headcount, as is the case with all machinery of government changes. Artificial intelligence, science and technology are major priorities that cut across the whole of government and are vital for the country’s future economic prosperity. DSIT’s functions have been accordingly redistributed so that policy relating to science and technology is better aligned across government.

[Lord Empey (UUP)]

My Lords, approximately in excess of 4,000 civil servants were employed in that department. I wonder whether this has led to the abolition of any posts, or are people simply being redistributed? Can the Minister perhaps tell us what impact there will be in the Civil Service on total numbers, which rose dramatically after Covid? Can the Minister tell us whether the number in the Civil Service is reducing? If she does not have figures, perhaps she could write to me and place a letter in the Library.

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

As is the case with all machinery of government changes, the redistribution of the functions of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is independent of decisions on overall Civil Service headcount. These changes are about ensuring that we have the right structures in place to drive the Government’s priorities, in light of the significant difference in terms of how important digital is to the world. It is not about reducing headcount.

However, we have committed to future central government becoming smaller and more strategic. The Cabinet Secretary is leading a review into the organisation, performance and transformation of the permanent Civil Service, which will include, among other things, the size, shape and structure of the service. This review will report before summer 2027.