Highlights

14 Minutes

Government and politics Highlights

Secret clouds, returnship schemes and machine-readable spend data – what’s in government’s digital roadmap?

Sam Trendall January 23, 2026

A year on from an initial blueprint, GDS has published its full roadmap of objectives for the next few years. PublicTechnology runs through the key plans, priorities and programmes included. […]...

11 Minutes

Highlights Society and welfare

What is the cost of DWP’s UC anti-fraud algorithm?

Sam Trendall January 21, 2026

The tech tool has been subject to criticism and controversy since being launched by the department five years ago. PublicTechnology investigates recent disclosures about its technical operation and financial return. […]...

3 Minutes

Business and industry Highlights News

Government slashed £600m of consultancy spend in FY25

Sam Trendall January 15, 2026

While some departments still spent hundreds of millions of pounds, other major agencies laid out as little as £200k after an edict from the incoming Labour administration halting inessential spending […]...

3 Minutes

Education and skills Highlights News

DfE reveals use ChatGPT-based tool to draft citizen email responses

Sam Trendall January 9, 2026

Department publishes record outlining how technology has reduced a process that took 30 minutes to one lasting just 60 seconds, with plans afoot to use tool for 80% of correspondence […]...

2 Minutes

Economics and finance Highlights News

Government ‘does not recognise’ OBR figures of £1.8bn ‘unfunded cost’ for digital ID regime

Sam Trendall December 16, 2025

While ministers have repeatedly rebuffed questions about the costs of the new virtual identity, government’s independent fiscal watchdog has cited a figure, but claimed that money has not been committed […]...

3 Minutes

Government and politics Highlights News

Government digital blitz this month to include full Whitehall implementation plan with ‘fully costed and funded deliverables’

Sam Trendall December 5, 2025

Senior officials indicate that the incoming digital roadmap will be released in 2025 with a range of detailed plans and ‘alongside a series of other key digital and data announcements’ […]...

4 Minutes

Highlights News Society and welfare

EXCL: GOV.UK App passes 250,000 downloads

Sam Trendall November 28, 2025

While the program’s user base remains at fewer than one in every 200 UK adults, uptake so far has been driven organically via delivery of services and word of mouth […]...

3 Minutes

Economics and finance Highlights News

Budget 2025: HMRC given £59m tech for digital prompts and e-invoicing

Sam Trendall November 27, 2025

As the department hits a digital interaction rate of 80%, more money and additional legislation is intended to help further streamline services and, ultimately, collect extra revenue for the Exchequer […]...

4 Minutes

Communities, housing and planning Highlights News

GDS launches local government unit and cross-public sector skills hub

Sam Trendall November 24, 2025

Government’s technology unit has reactivated its local government ambitions with the launch of a specialist new team, the work of which will be supported by a skills and careers hub […]...

3 Minutes

Highlights News Society and welfare

AI funding as proportion of DWP IT budget grows sixfold in FY25

Sam Trendall November 20, 2025

Having had no dedicated money set aside as recently as 2023, government’s benefits agency now commits tens of millions of pounds for emerging tech each year, after an investment increase […]...

PublicTechnology

Highlights

Secret clouds, returnship schemes and machine-readable spend data – what’s in government’s digital roadmap?

What is the cost of DWP’s UC anti-fraud algorithm?

Government slashed £600m of consultancy spend in FY25

DfE reveals use ChatGPT-based tool to draft citizen email responses

Government ‘does not recognise’ OBR figures of £1.8bn ‘unfunded cost’ for digital ID regime

Government digital blitz this month to include full Whitehall implementation plan with ‘fully costed and funded deliverables’

EXCL: GOV.UK App passes 250,000 downloads

Budget 2025: HMRC given £59m tech for digital prompts and e-invoicing

GDS launches local government unit and cross-public sector skills hub

AI funding as proportion of DWP IT budget grows sixfold in FY25

Government risks ‘doing the wrong thing efficiently’, civil servants warn in new research

Hitachi Solutions demonstrates secure use of Microsoft tools with AWS data in major win for government cloud interoperability

Only 1% of managers call their hiring ‘very effective’ – Civica research shows why

Beyond the iron fist: What civil servants say will really cut Whitehall waste

Watch: Does the civil service have the skills to get the most out of AI?