Tech and innovation are not separate sectors of the economy, says new government, but the foundation of future industry, culture and public service.
The new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has launched a major transformation of the machinery of government. Many state functions will be transferred to what’s being called No 10 North – ie a government office based in Manchester.
Photo by Ugur Akdemir / Unsplash
Another big change is that the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has been disbanded. In a statement to the House of Lords, Baroness Smith of Basildon – speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister – said that DSIT’s functions will be ‘redistributed’ and ’embedded as vital engines of growth exactly where they can have the most direct impact.’ The thinking behind this is that tech and innovation are not separate sectors of our economy, but the ‘foundation of all future industry, culture, and public service delivery.’
Even so, the Prime Minister has appointed Kanishka Narayan as the first ever Minister for Artificial Intelligence, and will establish an AI taskforce within the new Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet (OPMC). Working with a prime ministerial adviser on AI – as yet unappointed – the taskforce will drive the government’s overall strategy on AI, aiming to unlock opportunities for growth, prosperity and the transformation of the public sector transformation.
In addition, the Cabinet Office will take the lead on AI adoption across the civil service, with responsibility for AI strategy, public sector AI adoption and the AI Security Institute coming under its purview.
Meanwhile, the Department for Business and Trade will be renamed: as the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (DBIST), it will take responsibility for the science and innovation portfolio, as well as emerging sectors.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will continue to have responsibility for digital foundations, digital transformation, digital inclusion and skills, information resilience and online harms. It will also now be responsible for policy on digital identity, previously held by the Cabinet Office.
Baroness Smith of Basildon told the House of Lords: ‘ Today, we are fundamentally rewiring the state, changing the geography of government to deliver a stronger, more strategic centre that empowers local leaders, and acts as the engine room for driving economic growth across the whole country.
‘ Where possible, these Machinery of Government changes will take practical effect from today.’
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