A new Digital Information and Smart Data Bill with elements aimed at modernising public services is among the priorities identified in the King’s Speech this week.
They include electronic registration of births and deaths, digital verification for public services, smart data schemes and further work on the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR).
There are also plans for a Cyber Security and Resilience Bill and information standards in health and social care systems.
They are among the details of the briefing paper published to accompany King Charles’ speech outlining the plans of the new Government, following the victory of the Labour Party in the general election.
It states that one of the aims of the Digital Information Bill – an earlier version of which was lost in the pre-election ‘wash up’ of Parliament – is to enable the development of more and better digital public services.
Identity verification
This includes a statutory requirement to set up digital verification services – the creation and adoption of secure and trusted digital identity products and services from certified providers – to support processes such as moving house and pre-employment checks. It reflects ongoing work by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on a digital identities and attributes trust framework and the Government Digital Service on the One Login service.
Other plans include setting up smart data schemes for the secure sharing of customers’ data with authorised third parties, and the development of the NUAR, a digital map of underground assets such as pipes and cables that supports planners and excavators.
The section also makes brief references to moving to an electronic system for the registration of births and deaths, helping government share data about businesses that use public services and applying information standards to IT suppliers in the health and social care system.
Cyber plans
Efforts to protect digital services and critical infrastructure will be supported by a new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, updating the regulatory framework by expanding the remit of regulation to more services and supply chains. This will include the mandation of increased incident reporting to give government better data on cyber attacks.
In addition, a Railways Bill will include a provision for digital pay-as-you-go and season ticketing to be rolled out across the rail network.
There is also a plan to create a digital private rented sector database to bring together key information for landlords, tenants and council. It will be aimed at helping landlords understand their obligations and councils to target enforcement measures where needed.
