Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, who is responsible for digitisation in his Department; and what mechanisms the person with responsibility for digitisation uses to champion digitisation.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson
DFID’s Digital Strategy 2018 to 2020 sets out a vision and approach for doing development in a digital world. Its aim is to establish DFID as a global leader in digital technology and development, in order to have a bigger, faster and more cost-effective impact on the lives of poor people.
Responsibility for delivering on the digital strategy is shared across different business units in DFID, including the Head of Emerging Policy, Innovation and Capability, the Chief Information Officer, the Head of Better Delivery Department and the Chief Statistician, co-ordinating through the Digital Data and Technology Steering Group.
A Digital Data and Technology Delivery Board chaired by the Permanent Secretary provides strategic oversight and guidance.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who is responsible for digitisation in her Department; and what mechanisms the person with responsibility for digitisation uses to champion digitisation.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Home Office has established a Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) directorate Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer, to enable the Home Office to keep citizens safe and the country secure through leading-edge digital, data and technology solutions.
HO DDaT works in partnership with the Department to build and run digital services and systems. It does this by ensuring reliable, responsive, secure technology and data; an improved technology experience for employees; fully accessible customer-centric digital services; and building for the future. It makes digital information, systems and services available to the public through gov.uk.
HO DDaT works closely with the Government Digital Service (GDS), which leads the digital function across government. Focus is on ‘digital maturity’ as opposed to “digitisation”.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who is responsible for digitisation in his Department; and what mechanisms the person with responsibility for digitisation uses to champion digitisation.
Answered by Nadine Dorries
The Government Digital Service leads the Government’s digital, data and technology function. Responsibility for digitisation within the Department is discharged by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NHSX. NHSX is a joint unit between the Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement, and launched on 1 July this year.
The CEO has system-wide responsibility for digital and technology policy in health and social care, and is both a Director General in the Department and National Director for Digital in NHS England. The organisation combines the levers of policy and implementation, including setting of national strategy, delivery of programmes, development of best practice, and setting of standards. Departmental officials within NHSX are also responsible for overseeing NHS Digital.
The current CEO is Matthew Gould.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to work with (a) Kent Police, (b) West Midlands Police and (c) the British Transport Police on running live facial recognition trials to identify and track missing and vulnerable people.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The Home Office has been in discussions with all three forces about facial recognition trials.
The forces have not made any decisions on whether to proceed with any of these trials.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, who is responsible for digitisation in her Department; and what mechanisms the person with responsibility for digitisation uses to champion digitisation.
Answered by Matt Warman
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Dissolution.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who is responsible for digitisation in her Department; and what mechanisms the that person uses to champion digitisation.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)
Service transformation is one of the Department for Work and Pensions’ strategic objectives. Accountability is shared between the Director General for Digital and the Director General for Service Excellence. It is coordinated through the Service Transformation Board which provides governance for service improvements as well as the strategic approach to the digitalisation of the Department’s services. The work is championed across the Department, including via Transformation Portfolio Managers and Digital product owners.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, who is responsible for digitisation in his Department; and what mechanisms the person with responsibility for digitisation uses to champion digitisation.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Government Digital Service (GDS) leads the Government’s Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) function, helping departments build and run services that are digital by default and focused on the needs of citizens. GDS works with departments to set the government’s strategy for digital transformation, including the Government Transformation Strategy.
Within government we have a strong focus on the concept of “digital maturity”, which encapsulates not only delivery of excellent digital services, but improving government’s processes, tools, and infrastructure, developing DDaT capability and upskilling decision makers to ensure we build on these foundations to deliver digital transformation at scale.
The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales does not provide services directly to the public and uses Ministry of Justice DDaT systems for its operations. The Deputy Director of Corporate Services is responsible for digital maturity in the Department.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, who is responsible for digitisation in his Department; and what mechanisms the person with responsibility for digitisation uses to champion digitisation.
Answered by Julian Smith
The Northern Ireland Office is committed to working with the Government Digital Service (GDS) to transform how it operates and is fully integrated onto GOV.UK. A Director is responsible for overseeing digitisation within the Department and ensuring that staff can make the most of technology.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, who is responsible for digitisation in her Department; and what mechanisms the person with responsibility for digitisation uses to champion digitisation.
Answered by George Eustice
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Dissolution.
Asked by: Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, who is responsible for digitisation in his Department; and what mechanisms the person with responsibility for digitisation uses to champion digitisation.
Answered by James Duddridge
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Dissolution.