GDS Economists Create Tech Benefits Framework to Help Depts Quantify Savings or Job Reductions
The UK Government Digital Service (GDS) has published a new benefits framework to help departments quantify savings from AI, digital services, data, capability, and technology initiatives. The guidance estimates AI could generate £6.3bn (≈$7.9bn) in annual civil‑service savings and £23.7bn (≈$29.6bn) across the wider public sector. Full digitisation of government services could save £1.5bn (≈$1.9bn), while reducing costly contractor reliance and legacy IT spend adds further efficiencies. The framework is designed as a digital companion to the Treasury’s Green Book, giving officials a structured method for business‑case appraisal.
Police Tech Body Adds Six Months and £30m to Deal for Airwave Devices to Cover ESN Delays
The Police Digital Service (PDS) has extended its Airwave handset contract with Sepura and Motorola Solutions by six months, adding roughly $38 million to the deal. The agreement now runs until 30 June 2027, lifting the total contract value to about $114 million. The...
Scotland Plans New National Tax Platform
Scotland’s Revenue Scotland announced a plan to procure a new cloud‑based digital platform to replace the Scottish Electronic Tax System (SETS). The platform will support at least five devolved taxes, case management, workflow automation, and analytics for roughly 80 back‑office...
DVSA’s New £735m Theory Test Contracts to Offer Option to ‘Explore Remote Testing’
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has launched a £735 million (≈ $940 million) procurement to appoint three regional suppliers that will run the UK driving theory test centre network from September 2028 through 2035. The contracts, split into £235 million for the north,...
Government Pledges ‘Local Conversations and Events to Encourage Participation’ in Digital ID Consultation
The UK government announced a series of in‑person roadshows, roundtables and a "workshop in a box" to boost participation in its digital identity consultation, which runs from 10 March to 5 May. Citizens can respond via an online form, email or post,...
DSIT Launches Recruitment for Two More DGs
The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has launched recruitment for two additional Director General (DG) positions—digital transformation and digital products—offering salaries of £200,000‑£260,000 (approximately $250,000‑$325,000). Both roles are currently filled on an interim basis by Emily Middleton...
Making Tax Digital: HMRC Equality Review Finds Possible ‘Minor Impacts’ Based on Disability, Age and Religion
HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) regime now requires about 800,000 self‑employed individuals and landlords to submit income‑tax returns via accredited software, with nearly a million more slated for 2027 and 2028. An initial equality screening found only minor impacts for...
NHS Preps for ‘Large-Scale’ Microsoft Procurement with £50k Benchmarking Exercise
NHS England is commissioning IDC for a 20‑week, £46,000 (~$58,400) benchmarking project to map Microsoft software licensing and pricing. The exercise, running from 13 April to 31 August, is a preparatory step for a large‑scale procurement that could dwarf the current £775 million...
New DWP Perm Sec to Lead Use of ‘AI and Emerging Tech to Transform Services’
The UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has opened recruitment for a new permanent secretary, offering a salary of £200,000‑£220,000 (approximately $256k‑$282k). The incumbent, Sir Peter Schofield, will step down in July after eight years at the helm. The search...
GDS-Run Spend Controls Retired as Departments to ‘Fully Own and Manage Their Own Approvals Processes’
The UK Government Digital Service (GDS) has retired its digital and technology spend controls after 16 years, replacing them with the Digital Assurance Playbook that devolves approval authority to individual departments. Under the old regime, any digital spend of £100,000...
Home Office Seeks Trio of £100k-Plus Leaders to Support Police Tech Transformation
The Home Office is recruiting three deputy delivery directors to steer a major police technology transformation, each offering a six‑figure salary of £100,000‑£117,800 (approximately $127,000‑$150,000). The roles cover legacy services transformation—including the £900 million (≈$1.14 billion) Law Enforcement Data Service that will...
NHS Preps Major Tech Programme to ‘Transform Patient, Public and Staff-Facing Services’
On 1 April, NHS England launched the TPPSFS programme, a £250 million (£320 million) initiative that subsumes the existing Digital Transformation of Screening project and aims to overhaul patient, public and staff‑facing services. The plan outlines eight priority areas, including a full...
DSIT and DESNZ IT Unit Signs £7.5m Laptop Deal
The Integrated Corporate Services (ICS) unit, serving the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), has signed a Dell contract worth up to £7.5 million (≈$9.6 million). The initial 12‑month phase,...
MPs Urge Creation of National Body to Combat Disinformation
The UK Foreign Affairs Committee has called on ministers to establish a statutory National Counter Disinformation Centre to counter foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). The report notes that seven government departments – including the FCDO, MoD, Home Office and...
HMRC Lifts Lid on £1bn-Plus Programme to ‘Create a Generational Shift in Customer Service’ with Single Taxpayer View
HM Revenue & Customs has launched a £1bn‑plus (≈$1.3bn) Enterprise Customer Relationship Management (ECRM) programme that will run until March 2030. The initiative, overseen by senior responsible owner Mike Beddington, aims to give HMRC a single, unified view of every taxpayer’s...
