9

Department struggles monitoring sector engagement with inaccessible digital systems and inconsistent records

Recommendation
We asked the Department about its ability to monitor its engagement with economic sectors, given that officials do not consistently record their interactions with companies, and its digital system — DataHub — is not accessible across the whole of Whitehall.17 The Department noted the challenges of different digital platforms operating in different government departments, and that a single digital architecture across Whitehall would help with joining up departments. The Department told us it had moved former BEIS and DIT officials onto a single digital platform; piloted AI tools; and was looking to increase digital capacity in the Department, because of the potential this would offer.18 13 Q 52 14 Q 51 15 Q 56 16 Q 84 17 C&AG’s Report, paras 2.19-2.20 18 Qq 84-87 9 Working with other government departments to support industry
Government Response

A response document is linked to this report, dated 18 September 2025. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document.

Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age 1.2 yr
Report published 25 Jun 2025