Tomorrow, [13 March] the Prime Minister will set out how he will
“go further and faster in reshaping the state to make it work for
working people.”
Reflecting on international events of the last few weeks, he will
say that national security is economic security, and therefore
“the fundamental task of politics right now is to take the
decisions needed on national security, to deliver security for
people at home.”
The Prime Minister will set out his belief in the power of “an
active government that takes care of the big questions, so people
can get on with their lives.”
He will share his diagnosis that the state has become bigger, but
weaker and isn't delivering on its core purpose, before outlining
his mission to reshape it. He will say that the new global “era
of instability” means that the Government must double down in
delivering security for working people and renewing our nation.
The intervention follows the Government's step change in approach
to regulation and regulators, following the abolition of the
Payment Services Authority as the Prime Minister commits to a
government wide target to cut administrative costs of regulation
by 25%.
New plans announced to support delivery will include new AI and
tech teams sent into public sector departments to drive
improvements and efficiency in public services. One in 10 civil
servants will work in tech and digital roles within the next five
years with 2,000 tech apprenticeships turbo charging the
transformation.
The moves come as the Government slashes the costs of red tape by
a quarter for businesses.
It is expected the Prime Minister will say:
“The great forces buffeting the lives of working people, and
an era of instability driving in their
lives….
“The need for greater urgency now could not be any clearer.
We must move further and faster on security and renewal.
“Every pound spent, every regulation, every decision must
deliver for working people…
“If we push forward with the digitisation of government
services. There are up to £45bn worth of savings and productivity
benefits, ready to be realised.
“And that's before we even consider the golden opportunity of
artificial intelligence. An opportunity I am determined to
seize.”
Fundamentally reshaping the way the British state delivers and
serves working people by becoming more tech-driven, productive,
agile and Mission focused will be set out alongside further
detail on the digitalisation of public services and the wider
British state.
The approach will be underpinned by the mantra that “No
person's substantive time should be spent on a task where digital
or AI can do it better, quicker and to the same high quality and
standard.” The digitisation will include the sweeping
modernisations, a new apprenticeship scheme, TechTrack, will
bring 2,000 apprentices into public sector departments by 2030,
making sure the UK Government has the skills needed to overhaul
public services using tech - creating new opportunities across
the country and delivering on the Plan for Change.
DSIT unveiled this week that initial tests of an AI helper for
call centre workers included in the bundle, built in partnership
with Citizens' Advice, showed that it could halve the amount of
time it takes call handlers to give responses to complex
questions on anything from consumer rights to legal support.
Technology Secretary said:
“There is a £45 billion jackpot to secure if we use
technology properly across our public sector – but we can't hope
to come close to securing that if we don't have the right
technical talent with us in government.
“Not only will these changes help fix our public services,
but it will save taxpayer cash by slashing the need for thousands
of expensive contractors and create opportunities across the
country across the country as part of our Plan for change.”
