Report proposes 'Whitehall in the cloud' to replace legacy infrastructure

A new report from the Commission for Smart Government (CSG) proposes that government IT systems should move onto the cloud, with accelerated use of digital ID, to bring Whitehall into line with modern private sector organisations.

Daniel Korski, lead author of the report and former Deputy Head of the No. 10 Policy Unit under Prime Minister David Cameron, said:

“From working at the heart of government I know how far we have fallen behind and how urgent reform is; in the post-Covid19 world, we need to offer better public services and that requires a digitally-native mindset and infrastructure”

The proposals have been submitted to the Cabinet Office and Number 10, who have acknowledged the need to fundamentally overhaul the government’s digital architecture.

Amongst over 60 detailed recommendations, CSG proposes that the UK adopt the US model of a powerful government Chief Digital Officer to drive through the changes – as well as the establishment of a National Digital Council, on a par with the National Security Council, in recognition of the critical significance of digital issues in the modern world.

The proposals would replace centralised control over public programmes with a new digital system that would enable agencies such as the NHS, and private companies, plus social enterprises or charities to ‘plug-in’ to government networks to offer services to citizens or businesses, provided they met standards set centrally.  This would disrupt the dominance of large outsourcing companies and enable a far greater number of fast-innovating companies to offer services more closely focused on users’ needs – mirroring the revolution in consumer services we’ve seen in the last decade.

Jacky Wright, former CIO of HMRC and now CDO of Microsoft and a Commissioner at CSG, said:

“Everyone has moved to the cloud and towards more agile, digitally-first ways of working; the government needs to follow suit rather than fall behind. Our recommendations will help the Government get there, fast.”

New digital services would be built on a common cloud infrastructure, with integrated data systems deploying registries, open standards, shared components and open APIs.

This approach would build a new kind of cloud-based government from the ground up, focused on the service needs of citizens, communities and businesses. It draws from the best examples of digital government innovation worldwide, and if implemented, would put the UK’s digital capability at the forefront of G7 countries once more.

In order to elevate the whole arena of digital to the appropriate level, The CSG also urges the Government to appoint a powerful Chief Digital Officer (GCDO), with a strong mandate to drive through the transformation project.  On top of that it proposes a new National Digital Council – on a par with the National Security Council –as well as the creation of an Office of Digital Effectiveness similar to the Office for Budget Responsibility.