Minister pledges ‘bold’ civil service productivity plan with focus on digital


Georgia Gould, the Cabinet Office minister with responsibility for public sector reform, has indicated that the Labour administration intends ‘develop a strategic plan’ to boost skills and technology across government

A minister has claimed that the new government will deliver a plan for increasing civil service productivity via “bold options” concerning the use of digital technologies.

In late July, the recently elected Labour administration revealed plans to conduct an initial one-year spending review, where departmental budgets for 2025/26 will be unveiled alongside the autumn Budget on 30 October. A full, longer-term spending review process is also now underway and the results, including funding plans for the upcoming three years to 2028/29, will be unveiled in March 2025.

Announcing the start of this process, chancellor Rachel Reeves said the new government “starting the firing gun [sic] on a new approach to public service reform to drive greater productivity in the public sector”. This approach would be characterised will be “enabled by new technology, including… the opportunities of artificial intelligence to improve our public services”, Reeves added.


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The minister with responsibility for public sector reform and government functions – Georgia Gould, whose role sits within the Cabinet Office – has outlined that the government will soon set out dedicated plan for boosting productivity. New technology will play a key role, the minister suggested.

“This government is committed to improving the productivity of the public sector to deliver high quality public services, achieve value for money and support economic growth,” she said. “The government will develop a strategic plan for a more efficient and effective civil service, including bold options to improve skills, harness digital technology and drive better outcomes for public services.”

Gould’s comments were made in response to a written parliamentary question from Conservative MP Richard Holden.

Sam Trendall

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