Government has sought to provide services online and harness the power of the data it collects to improve the efficiency of public services as well as the outcomes they deliver for people. Government spent approximately £1.75bn on the procurement of digital services in 2018 which is 20 times more than it did in 2013. In addition to this expenditure, government also spends on data and digital services which are provided in-house.

The digital transformation and better use of data within government have delivered many benefits such as the reduction of fraud and error in public services saving approximately £300 million between 2016-2018. Nevertheless, government’s plans to transform the public sector through the better use of data and technology, have not always been successful. It is therefore essential to examine how money is being spent on digital transformation to ensure that maximum value is delivered to the taxpayer.