Committee publication · Correspondence · 4 June 2026
Letter to the Permanent Secretary at the Cabinet Office and the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology relating to Government’s relationship with digital technology suppliers, 4 June 2026
From: Public Accounts Committee
Inquiry: Government services: Identifying costs and generating income
Summary
The Public Accounts Committee writes to the Cabinet Office and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Permanent Secretaries expressing concerns that several recommendations from their June 2025 report on government's digital technology supplier relationships have not been fully implemented despite being marked closed. The Committee seeks detailed clarification on digital commercial capability planning, the Digital Suppliers Playbook, departmental expertise assurance, the role of digital commercial experts, and strategic supplier data management by 2 July 2026.
Key findings
- Committee not reassured that closed recommendations have been fully addressed, particularly on how separate capability initiatives are integrated into comprehensive planning
- Digital Suppliers Playbook lacks sufficient detail on practical, end-to-end guidance across the commercial lifecycle for digital procurements
- Departmental capability work does not yet clarify how oversight structures will ensure departments maintain adequate digital commercial skills and senior specialist expertise
- No explicit statement provided on the current proportion and intended balance of digital commercial experts within the broader commercial function
- Pipeline and spending data improvements lack clarity on how they combine to inform strategic decision-making about technology supplier spending
Tone
CriticalTopics
Key actors
Public Accounts Committee, Catherine Little, Emran Mian, Cabinet Office, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Comptroller and Auditor General, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
Notable line
“… we are not yet reassured that some of the recommendations marked as closed have been fully addressed.”
Key Quotes
“… we are not yet reassured that some of the recommendations marked as closed have been fully addressed.”
“… it is not clear from your response how these elements are brought together into a single, comprehensive plan that sets out priority capability needs, current capability levels and identified skills gaps in a coherent way.”
“… it is not yet clear how this approach will translate into assurance that departments have the digital commercial skills and expertise they need, including clarity on the role of senior specialists.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗