Tech experts to help repair public services

The government’s new ‘digital centre’ is set to boost how technology is used to repair public services and drive economic growth, as well as reducing wait times for patients.

The group will help the government plan changes to how technology is used across public services in a new bid to cut backlogs, improve service outcomes and make government services more accessible.  

It brings in leading industry expertise, including Poppy Gustafson, the founder of Darktrace, as well as prominent advocates for digital inclusion and skills, such as Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon.  

The move follows three Cabinet Office and No10 units joining the Department for Science, Innovation and Technoloft (DSIT) to combine efforts under one department. 

Announcing the panel today at The Times’ Tech Summit, AI and digital government minister Feryal Clark said: "Poor technology slows down public services too often, when new tools should be cutting waiting lists and taking the burden from citizens and the taxpayer. That is why DSIT has become the centre for digital government.   

"We will be bold in our plans with this new responsibility, and the external expertise we are bringing in to advise us will help deliver on our shared ambitions to improve public services and drive sustainable growth that works for everyone."

The panel includes co-founder of Darktrace Poppy Gustafsson OBE, crossbench peer Martha Lane Fox, and chair of the Central Digital and Data Office Paul Willmott.