Committee publication · Correspondence · 21 May 2026
Letter from the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology relating to Use of AI in Government report recommendations, 18 May 2026
Summary
The Permanent Secretary at DSIT updates the PAC on progress implementing the 'Use of AI in Government' report recommendations. Six recommendations are addressed with revised delivery timelines. Most deadlines have been pushed back from early 2026 to autumn 2026 or later, primarily due to resource allocation and the need to embed work across government structures. DSIT commits to completing all recommendations but acknowledges complexity in legacy system assessment, funding oversight, and AI procurement frameworks.
Key findings
- PAC recommendation 1b (legacy technology costs): Implementation date revised from January 2026 to Autumn 2026. DSIT is developing a stable assessment model with common metrics to measure both ongoing costs of legacy systems and costs of failing to remediate them, for publication in the Technology Modernisation Action Plan.
- PAC recommendation 1c (remediation funding tracking): Deadline moved from January 2026 to Autumn 2026. DSIT and HM Treasury are strengthening central financial governance of cyber and legacy system remediation funding under the Government Cyber Action Plan, with departments required to report outcomes on a six-monthly basis.
- PAC recommendation 3 (skills gap resolution): Originally due March 2026, now completed as of 11 May 2026. Update on digital skills reforms and monitoring mechanisms issued to the PAC.
- PAC recommendation 5 (AI procurement framework): Implementation date revised from January 2026 to September 2026. DSIT and Cabinet Office are strengthening commercial routes; the AI Dynamic Purchasing System now provides access to 598 suppliers (85% SMEs). Work includes testing Procurement Act 2023 flexibilities through the Commercial Innovation Hub.
- PAC recommendations 6b and 6c (digital leadership and embedding): Timelines extended from June 2026 to December 2026. DSIT is working with Cabinet Office on guidance for digital and AI performance reporting in annual reports and establishing a Commercial IT Directors Group to embed digital and procurement skills in departmental boards.
Government position
Partially accepts. DSIT confirms commitment to delivering all PAC recommendations in full but requests timeline extensions for most deliverables (1b, 1c, 5, 6b, 6c) citing resource allocation, organisational restructuring (DCCOE reset, GCA restructure), and the need to embed work across government structures robustly. The department justifies delays as necessary to ensure feasibility and alignment with broader priorities, framing revised timelines as maintaining robust delivery rather than withdrawal from commitments.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Emran Mian, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Cabinet Office, HM Treasury, Government Cyber Coordination Centre, Government Commercial Agency, Digital Commercial Centre of Excellence
Notable line
“The Department continues to progress activity to strengthen the use of AI across government and remains committed to delivering the recommendations in the report in full.”
Key Quotes
“Since the Committee's session, there has been considerable change in the Government's AI, digital and data landscape, including updates to strategic direction and organisational structures.”
“The implementation date for this recommendation has been revised from January 2026 to Autumn 2026. This is due to the time required to put sufficient resource in place, which has now been completed.”
“This work is being taken forward by DSIT and HM Treasury to strengthen oversight of outdated (legacy) remediation funding and reduce the risk of diversion of funding earmarked for critical system improvements.”
“DSIT has worked with the Government Commercial Agency, within Cabinet Office, to improve existing routes for buying AI, particularly the AI Dynamic Purchasing System, which now provides access to 598 suppliers, around 85% of which are SMEs.”
“Revised timelines allow delivery to remain robust, feasible and aligned with broader cross - government priorities.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗