Westminster eForum policy conference

Developing digital government in the UK – interoperability, public trust and the role of the private sector

with

Gaia Marcus, Head of Data Strategy, DCMS

Sian Jones, Value for Money Director, Business, Science and Industrial Strategy, National Audit Office

Frankie Kay, Interim Deputy National Statistician and Director General, Data Capability, Office for National Statistics

Chris Francis, Director, UK Government Relations, SAP

and

Paula Barrett, Eversheds Sutherland; Mark Enzer, Centre for Digital Built Britain and Mott MacDonald; Matthew Rice, Open Rights Group and Laura Sandys, Government’s Energy Data Taskforce

Follow us @WeFEvents | This event is CPD certified

Morning, Thursday, 5^th March 2020

Central London

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Note: fees apply to most delegates, but concessionary and complimentary places are available (subject to terms and conditions – see below).

The agenda looks at the implications for organisations in the private sector and elsewhere – particularly those that interface with central government departments.

Areas for discussion include:

• development of digitised public service delivery,
• broadening public sector data access for SMEs and issues around data held by large businesses, non-profits and other organisations, and
• utilising data to drive wider economic growth and next steps for the UK’s wider national data infrastructure.

It takes place in the context of the ongoing development of the Government’sNational Data Strategy– including a call for evidence on:

• improving public services through effective use of data,
• increasing public trust in the way their data is treated and used, and
• developing the UK’s wider data economy.

It also follows the publication of theChallenges in using data across governmentreport by the National Audit Office, which sets out a number of recommendations on improving the handling and use of data across government departments and the treatment of data as a strategic asset.

Speakers

There will be keynote addresses from:

• Gaia Marcus, Head of Data Strategy, DCMS;
• Sian Jones, Value for Money Director, Business, Science and Industrial Strategy, National Audit Office; and
• Chris Francis, Director, UK Government Relations, SAP.

Further confirmed speakers include:

• Paula Barrett, Partner and Global Co-Lead, Privacy & Cyber Security Law, Eversheds Sutherland;
• Mark Enzer, Chair, Digital Framework Task Group, Centre for Digital Built Britain and Chief Technical Officer, Mott MacDonald;
• Frankie Kay, Interim Deputy National Statistician and Director General, Data Capability, Office for National Statistics;
• Matthew Rice, Scotland Director, Open Rights Group; and
• Laura Sandys, Chair, Government’s Energy Data Taskforce.

The agenda and keynote contributions

• The National Data Strategy – creating standards for the use of data across government and supporting the development of the UK’s wider data economy;
• Challenges in using data across government – key findings and recommendations from the report;
• Priorities for driving the development of digital services across government and the public sector;
• Improving data handling practices and tackling key ethical concerns – security, privacy and public trust
• Digital and data-driven services for social good – the role of the private sector and developing partnerships between policymakers and business; and
• Realising the benefits of private sector innovation in data-driven services and digital technologies.

Book Online | Live Agenda

The details: areas for discussion at this conference

Data handling and data standards across government

Delegates will consider the way forward for developing improved data handling practices within government departments and agencies, and other public sector bodies.

We expect the discussion to bring out latest thinking on:

• data standardisation and transfers between departments,
• improving the quality of data collected and held in government databases, and
• resourcing for the implementation of best practice in data handling across government.

Those attending will also look at what more is needed in order to put in place centralised leadership on data within government and the public sector – including where responsibility lies for developing data policy, and the implementation of cross-departmental data standards.

There will also be discussion on the treatment of data as a strategic asset within government, and the way individual departments are developing internal data strategies.

Developing digital and data-driven public services

Further sessions focus on the next steps for developing increased digitisation and utilisation of data across a range of public services.

In the context of the ongoing GovTech Catalystprogramme, delegates will consider the way forward for delivering data-driven innovations that benefit service delivery – including improvements in quality and reliability, efficiency, and cost savings.

Data ethics and public trust in the use of data by government and more widely

Delegates will consider the way forward for increasing public trust in the use of data by government and across the wider economy.

They will discuss key ethical questions around the handling of personal and identifying data, including:

• data privacy,
• cyber security and data protection, and
• profiling.

We also expect discussion on avoiding potential real-world consequences of utilising poor-quality or incomplete data in making policy decisions – including the effect on individuals and societal groups, with the NAO’s report highlighting the case of the handling of the Windrush situation.

The role for private-sector innovation and developing public-private partnerships

Further sessions will look at the potential of private-sector innovations in data handling and data-driven services for the delivery of public services.

Delegates will consider the way forward for developing partnerships and collaboration between government and the public sector, businesses, charities and other stakeholder groups to promote continued innovation and technological development.

They will also assess key lessons learnt in the private sector and across the wider economy in developing data handling best practice – and theirapplicability in government departments and public sector bodies.

Developing the UK’s national data infrastructure and the wider data economy

Further sessionslook at key priorities for developing the UK’s wider data economy and delivering improvements in the UK’s data infrastructure – including what further support might be needed from policymakers and central government.

Delegates will examine the way forward for broadening data access for SMEs – including public sector data, as well as data held by large businesses, non-profits and other organisations.

They will consider criteria for which data should be made open, as well as what more might be done to increase direct sharing of data between organisations.

We expect further discussion on utilising data to drive wider economic growth and to stimulate increased business productivity.

Delegates will look at the way forward for overcoming some of the key barriers – including skills requirements and the development and sharing of cross-sectoral expertise and best practice.

The agenda has been structured following consultation with officials at DCMS and the NAO. The draft agenda is copied below my signature, and a regularly updated version is available to download here. The seminar is organised on the basis of strict impartiality by the Westminster eForum. Follow us @WeFEvents for live updates.

Speakers

We are delighted to be able to include in this seminar keynote addresses from: Chris Francis, Director, UK Government Relations, SAP; Sian Jones, Value for Money Director, Business, Science and Industrial Strategy, National Audit Office and Gaia Marcus, Head of Data Strategy, DCMS.

Further confirmed speakers include: Paula Barrett, Partner and Global Co-Lead, Privacy & Cyber Security Law, Eversheds Sutherland; Mark Enzer, Chair, Digital Framework Task Group, Centre for Digital Built Britain and Chief Technical Officer, Mott MacDonald; Frankie Kay, Interim Deputy National Statistician and Director General, Data Capability, Office for National Statistics; Matthew Rice, Scotland Director, Open Rights Group and Laura Sandys, Chair, Government’s Energy Data Taskforce.

Additional senior participants are being approached.

Networking

This seminar will present an opportunity to engage with key policymakers and other interested parties, and is CPD certified (more details). Places have been reserved by officials from BEIS; Cabinet Office; DCMS; Department for Education; DfT; Home Office; MHCLG; MoJ and the ONS. Also due to attend are representatives from Kings College London and Open Banking.

Overall, we expect speakers and attendees to be a senior and informed group including Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior government officialsinvolved in this area of public policy, together with digital platforms and online businesses, consumer technology companies, software and app developers, representatives of data-reliant industries including utilities, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, logistics and finance, companies involved in the development of new technologies such as AI, cyber security and data protection companies, the technology and telecoms industries, organisations and individuals representing the views of consumers and citizens, regulators, academics and reporters from the national and trade media.

Output and About Us

A key output of the seminar will be a transcript of the proceedings, sent out around 12 working days after the event to all attendees and a wider group of Ministers and officials at DCMS, Cabinet Office, and other government departments; officials at the ICO, GDS and other agencies affected by the issues; and Parliamentarians with a special interest in these areas. It will also be made available more widely. This document will include transcripts of all speeches and questions and answers sessions from the day, along with access to PowerPoint presentations (subject to agreement with individual speakers), speakers’ biographies, an attendee list, an agenda, sponsor information, as well as any subsequent press coverage of the day and any articles or comment pieces submitted by delegates. It is made available subject to strict restrictions on public use, similar to those for Select Committee Uncorrected Evidence, and is intended to provide timely information for interested parties who are unable to attend on the day.

All delegates will receive complimentary PDF copies and are invited to contribute to the content.

The Westminster eForum is strictly impartial and cross-party, and draws on the considerable support it receives from within Parliament and Government, and amongst the wider stakeholder community. The Forum has no policy agenda of its own. Forum events are frequently the platform for major policy statements from senior Ministers, regulators and other officials, opposition spokespersons and senior opinion-formers in industry and interest groups. Events regularly receive prominent coverage in the national and trade media.

Booking arrangements

To book places, please use our online booking form.

Once submitted, this will be taken as a confirmed booking and will be subject to our terms and conditions below.

Please pay in advance by credit card on 01344 864796. If advance credit card payment is not possible, please let me know and we may be able to make other arrangements.

Options and charges are as follows:

• Places at Developing digital government in the UK – interoperability, public trust and the role of the private sector (including refreshments and PDF copy of the transcripts) are £230 plus VAT;
• Concessionary rate places for small charities, unfunded individuals and those in similar circumstances are £85 plus VAT. Please be sure to apply for this at the time of booking.

For those who cannot attend:

• Copies of the briefing document, including full transcripts of all speeches and the questions and comments sessions and further articles from interested parties, will be available approximately 12 days after the event for £95 plus VAT;
• Concessionary rate: £50 plus VAT.

If you find the charge for places a barrier to attending, please let me know as concessionary and complimentary places are made available in certain circumstances (but do be advised that this typically applies to individual service users or carers or the like who are not supported by or part of an organisation, full-time students, people between jobs or who are fully retired with no paid work, and representatives of small charities – not businesses, individuals funded by an organisation, or larger charities/not-for-profit companies). Please note terms and conditions below (including cancellation charges).