11
Accepted
The Cabinet Office told us in March 2025 that, to achieve annual savings of up...
Conclusion
The Cabinet Office told us in March 2025 that, to achieve annual savings of up to £500 million by reducing the need for digital consultants, it was aiming for 10% of civil servants to have digital expertise.25 Only 5.5% of the civil service met this criteria in April 2025, though DSIT told us that some government departments had already met this 10% target and that others are progressing towards it.26 It also told us that while there are schemes, such as apprenticeships, aimed at developing government’s digital capability, it faces challenges in recruiting and retaining at senior digital roles because of the wide pay differentials between the public and private sectors. DSIT told us that there is a degree of pay flexibility in making senior appointments and that it makes the case for these to be used, working with HM Treasury.27 We reported in December 2025 that the 22 Committee of Public Accounts, Digital transformation in government: addressing the barriers to efficiency, Seventieth report of session 2022–23. HC 1229, 13 September 2023, Recommendation 3b 23 HMG, A roadmap for modern digital government, January 2026, ‘Elevating digital leadership across government’ section 24 Q 87 25 Letter from Cabinet Office, 24 March 2025 (letter incorrectly dated 24 March 2024) 26 Q 85 27 Q 41 12 digital pay framework has been revalorised, but that it still falls short of industry rates in London and the South East, and this affects recruitment and retention.28
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and will publish the Digital Workforce 2030 plan of action in June 2026, outlining how it will meet the target of 10% digitally trained civil servants. DSIT is also working with the Treasury to improve flexibility for recruitment and refining the Digital and Data Pay Framework.
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3.10 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: June 2026 3.11 DSIT will publish the Digital Workforce 2030 plan of action in 2026, which will set out how it will meet the target of 10% digitally trained civil servants and the timetable for doing so. 43 3.12 DSIT has made progress towards the ambition of having 10% of the civil service to be digital, data and cyber professionals by 2030, several departments are already meeting or approaching this target. 3.13 However, DSIT recognises the challenges of recruiting and retaining experienced digital talent at civil service pay rates and growing talent with headcount limitations in departments stalling growth, DSIT is working actively with the Treasury to make the case for greater flexibility and to remove these constraints. 3.14 Further action to attract, retain, and develop digital and data talent is being taken through the refinement of the Government Digital and Data Pay Framework and Capability Framework.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Report
75th Report - Government use of data analytics on error and fraud
27 Mar 2026
HC 891
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
0.3 yrs
Report published
27 Mar 2026