Use of AI in Government

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 31 Oct 2024 Closed: 16 Jun 2025 Parliament page
Government’s ambition is for the public sector to set an example in the safe and ethical deployment of artificial intelligence (AI), which both has the potential to transform services for the taxpayer and presents risks and concerns. Cross-government work began in 2023 on developing a draft strategy for AI adoption … Read more
8 Recommendations
19 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
1 Letter
1 Event
Activity timeline 6 events
1 Dec
2025
Correspondence
18 Sep
2025
Report published
10 Jul
2025
Report published
26 Mar
2025
Report published
30 Jan
2025
Oral evidence
30 Jan
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
30 Jan 2025
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Cat Little · Cabinet Office David Knott · National Lottery Community Fund Sarah Munby · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Title HC No. Published Items Response
18th Report - Use of AI in Government HC 356 26 Mar 2025 27 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
8 results
Clear
4 Conclusion Acknowledged
18th Report - Use of AI in Governm…
Establish mechanism for AI pilot learning and scale successful products across government.
DSIT has no systematic mechanism for bringing together learning from pilots and there are few examples of successful at–scale adoption across government. At the time of the NAO report (March 2024), levels of AI use in government were low, but … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees but states a proposal is currently being developed within the Public Sector AI Adoption programme, which will define scope, secure funding, and build a minimal viable product for a mechanism to scale AI initiatives.
HM Treasury
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6 Conclusion Acknowledged
18th Report - Use of AI in Governm…
Ensure Government Digital and AI Roadmap has clear implementation plan with milestones and metrics.
Realising the benefits of AI across the public sector will require strong leadership from DSIT. Addressing the skills shortage, tackling the persistent issues with poor data quality and out–of–date technology, and providing the support and guardrails the public sector needs … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees, stating DSIT is exploring mechanisms to enhance digital expertise and integrate senior digital professionals, aligning with existing intent to require digital leaders on boards and a dotted reporting line to the Government Chief Digital Officer, but does not detail a specific implementation plan for the proposed roadmap itself.
HM Treasury
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9 Conclusion Acknowledged
18th Report - Use of AI in Governm…
Inadequate access to good-quality data impedes government's AI implementation efforts.
Access to good–quality data was identified as a barrier to implementing AI by 62% of the 87 government bodies responding to the NAO’s survey.16 We received written evidence expressing a range of views on this topic, illustrating the complexity of … Read more
Government Response
DSIT will set out details of its programme of work to address barriers to data sharing in the upcoming Government Digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Roadmap, including work to improve cross-government data management practices with a focus on data quality, as well as how this work will support successful realization of the National Data Library.
HM Treasury
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11 Conclusion Acknowledged
18th Report - Use of AI in Governm…
Public trust is vital for AI adoption but remains low, requiring greater transparency.
67% of government bodies responding to the NAO’s survey said that support from the centre of government in fostering public trust in AI was very important.23 Written evidence we received from a wide range of stakeholders emphasised the vital importance … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of public trust and data privacy in AI adoption.
HM Treasury
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14 Conclusion Acknowledged
18th Report - Use of AI in Governm…
Significant recruitment and retention challenges hinder government's adoption of AI and digital skills.
70% of government bodies responding to the NAO’s survey identified difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff with AI skills as a barrier to AI adoption.31 In January 2025, the government’s State of digital government review set out the digital and … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the digital skills gaps and is taking steps to implement reforms, including refining frameworks, developing talent pipelines, and encouraging skills exchange. More detail is promised in the forthcoming Digital and AI Roadmap.
HM Treasury
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15 Recommendation Acknowledged
18th Report - Use of AI in Governm…
Addressing the AI skills gap is crucial for responsible and ethical public sector AI adoption.
Written evidence we received emphasised the importance of addressing this skills gap, raising concerns about the public sector’s ability to take advantage of the opportunities of AI responsibly and ethically without 28 Qq 10–11 29 Q 57 30 Q 20 … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the recommendation to address the digital skills gap in the public sector but provides only general plans such as refining frameworks, developing talent pipelines, and encouraging skills exchange. More detail is promised in the forthcoming Digital and AI Roadmap.
HM Treasury
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18 Conclusion Acknowledged
18th Report - Use of AI in Governm…
AI deployment not widespread across government, with most bodies still piloting or planning use.
At the time of the NAO report in March 2024 AI was not widely used across government, with just over a third (37%) of 87 government bodies surveyed reporting they had deployed AI. In contrast, over two–thirds (70%) were piloting … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's observation about the new Government Digital Service and its aim to unite efforts to grasp the opportunities of technology and AI.
HM Treasury
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24 Conclusion Acknowledged
18th Report - Use of AI in Governm…
AI governance fragmented across government, but recent departmental transfers consolidate responsibility.
At the time of the NAO report, responsibility for AI in government was split across the Cabinet Office—which was primarily responsible for AI adoption in the public sector, through CDDO, i.AI and the Government Digital Service (GDS)—and DSIT, which held … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's observation about the new Government Digital Service and its aim to unite efforts to grasp the opportunities of technology and AI.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 27 of 8 classified
Accepted 19
Acknowledged 8
Total 8 recs + 19 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
1 Dec 2025 To committee Letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology relating to recommendations in Treasury Minute 18 on the Use of AI in Government, 18 November 2025
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