Burnham accused of gutting tech department’s ‘biggest strength’
Andy Burnham’s decision to abolish the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) will split up the teams it was created to bring together, according to its former top civil servant.
A leaked internal government document shows AI, digital and science responsibilities being divided between three departments as ministers begin dismantling DSIT less than three years after it was created.
Sarah Munby, who helped establish the department as permanent secretary, said its biggest strength had been bringing those functions together.
“One of the things that worked in DSIT was seeing data, digital capability and AI as part of an integrated whole,” she said. “We need clarity ASAP on what goes where. This really matters for the sector, for international partners and for staff. Confusion and uncertainty are the enemy.
The blueprint shows the Government Digital Service (GDS), GOV.UK, digital identity, cyber policy and the government’s chief technology and data officers moving to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), under Lisa Nandy.
The AI Security Institute will transfer to the Cabinet Office, while UK Research and Innovation, the Sovereign AI Fund, science policy, AI adoption and advanced technology teams will move into the new Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (DBIST)
“This can and must be kept even if it means some knotty coordination between the Cabinet Office, DBIST and DCMS,” added Munby.
Peers question AI overhaul
Raoul Ruparel, director of the BCG Centre for Growth, said moving the Government Digital Service away from AI adoption work was “strange”.
“Surely GDS and related services are going to become more AI driven. GDS is truly cross-cutting as a government function, so it was one of the things that most made sense to house centrally,” he said.
The shake-up also prompted urgent questions in the House of Lords, where peers repeatedly pressed ministers over who would ultimately be responsible for AI policy after the reorganisation.
Lord Tarassenko warned the changes could take around a year to complete and questioned how flagship AI programmes would continue during the transition. A year was “an eternity in AI”, he said.
Other peers asked ministers who would lead on AI strategy, safety and regulation once responsibility is divided across departments, reflecting wider concerns about how the new structure will operate.
Responding in the Lords, Cabinet Office minister Baroness Anderson said the changes would place science and AI “at the heart of government”, with the AI Security Institute moving to the Cabinet Office, the Sovereign AI Fund joining the new business department and digital government functions transferring to DCMS.