
HMRC extends Airwave device deal for criminal investigation units until 2027 to cover ESN delays
The tax department has two units staffed by officers with criminal investigation and enforcement powers

Departmental collaboration hampered by legacy tech, data challenges and lack of joint funding bids, senior officials warn
With the current spending review term of three years nearing its conclusion, Whitehall leaders have

National statistician: ‘We are looking at whether a traditional census goes ahead in 2031’
After concluding a year that was ‘transformational, challenging and educational’, the ONS is now considering

DWP signs new three-year AWS deal for £94m
Department – an ‘anchor customer’ for Amazon’s public sector-wide OGVA deal – has added £40m

Government decisions made over WhatsApp now required to go on official record
Freshly issued government guidance sets out new responsibilities for ministers and senior officials to ensure

Government comms professionals trial AI-powered virtual assistant
In 2024 the Government Communications Service is looking to make greater use of technology, as

eBay, Airbnb and others to provide HMRC with data on up to five million users
New rules that require sites to provide government with personal and financial information on online

‘Crisis manager and public voice of government’ – National Cyber Security Centre seeks new CEO
Intelligence organisation offers annual salary of up to £190,000 in bid to recruit candidate to

NAO chief puts digital and AI in the frame for ongoing modernisation
Gareth Davies discusses how the last 12 months have marked a ‘key milestone’ in the

Six per cent of DSIT officials now ‘completely dedicated to work on AI’
Head of science and tech department says that proportion of staff now focused on artificial

‘Twice as many as Netflix’ – NHS app registrations hit 33 million
Health service claims that pensioners are now the ‘most active users’ of the software, which

‘It’s all about delivering our digital transformation this year’ – HMRC chief
Deputy chief executive Angela MacDonald discusses her pride in the achievements of 2023, and the

Environment Agency extends £20m deal for flood warning system until end of 2025
Current contract with Fujitsu was first signed eight years ago and has been further extended

GDS head: ‘Our top priority for 2024 is working with HMRC to migrate millions of Government Gateway users to One Login’
Tom Read discusses the digital unit’s global cooperation, its plans to use tech to tackle

Academics use satellite data to tackle flooding
Days after Storm Gerrit battered the UK, researchers from Glasgow University are working on new

How digital patient records will transform Northern Irish healthcare
This year has been one of ‘resilience, reflection and hope, and has been marked by

Government finance pros look to get the most of tech and data in long-term plan
HM Treasury will next year create a plan for the remainder of the decade which,

Cabinet Office head: ‘We have greatly enhanced our expertise in digital, data and delivery’
As part of an annual survey of Whitehall chiefs, civil service COO Alex Chisholm reflects