WIREDGOV

GOV.UK Verify, the government’s digital identity programme, aims to ensure that users can create, use & reuse digital identities across public & private sector services.

Blog posted by: Lisa Barrett, 25 March 2019; As the recently appointed Director of Digital Identity at the Government Digital Service, it’s my role to ensure that this happens, and to shape the role of GOV.UK Verify in the future.  It’s a big challenge and one I feel privileged to have joined. Here’s …… my priorities for the near future:

Data, innovation and investment:  …. we also need to consider the incentives of, and ensure tech works for, both users and content/identity providers.  We need to innovate smartly and with user needs at the heart. And we need to act with urgency on opportunities that will unlock further investment in this market.

Digital identity is a collaborative project:  ……. if we want to solve the issue of connected data and user journeys, we need to look at identity as well.

Board members need to understand cyber security - NCSC publishes Cyber Board Toolkit.

With new regulations in place, such as GDPR, board members now have raised expectations as to their roles & responsibilities.  That is why the National Cyber Security Centre has published a cyber Board Toolkit – made relevant to anyone that is accountable within an organisation, from the Board of Directors or Governors to Trustees and Partners. 

The Toolkit is also relevant for technical staff and security practitioners, who are able to use the questions in the toolkit to frame discussions with the Board.  Through using the Toolkit, board members can know enough about cyber security in order to have a fluent conversation with their cyber practitioners.

The Toolkit provides:

• A general introduction to cyber security

Government inaction is hindering Ombudsman’s ability to serve public according to PACAC’s latest report examining the performance of the Public Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) in 2017/18.

The report acknowledges progress made over the past 12 months, but highlights areas where deficiencies remain.  It also criticises the ongoing Government inaction on introducing reforms, which continues to hamstring the PHSO.

Chair of the Committee, Sir Bernard Jenkin MP said:  “As a Committee, we have heard from individuals and families who have had existing traumas compounded by an ineffective, inefficient complaints process, at both NHS and PHSO level.  Whilst nobody doubts the complex nature of the Ombudsman’s role, there has been a need to rebuild public trust and ensure the service is up to scratch. ……..

CIPD responds to the BEIS Committee Report: Executive rewards - paying for success.

In response to the BEIS Committee report on executive pay,  Charles Cotton, senior reward & performance adviser for the CIPD, comments:

“…….. Success is a collective achievement and it isn’t right that some top earners take home multi-£m packages while pay for their average worker has struggled to improve in recent years…..   There needs to be a much stronger link between corporate performance and the remuneration of all workers, including those at the top.  We want to see a new, broader definition of corporate success that goes beyond profit and loss and also looks at how people are managed, rewarded & developed and how customers are treated.” 

5 brand new garden towns have been unveiled unlocking up to 64,000 much-needed homes across England, the Minister of State for Housing has announced.

The locally-led new communities, from Hertfordshire to Gloucestershire, will receive a share of £3.7m of funding to fast-track specialist survey work and planning works necessary for each new town’s development.  The 5 new schemes announced will join the 23 existing garden communities the government is currently supporting.

In addition to the 5 garden town schemes outlined above, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will also shortly announce further successful bids, including garden villages submitted prior to the 9 November 2018 deadline.

John Humphrys interviewed Mervyn King, the former Governor of the Bank of England, on the BBC’s Today programme about Brexit. (Friday 29th March).  

Cathy Gyngell of the ConservativeWomen website transcribed King’s calm and rational explanation of the issues around Brexit to have on the record.