All of the witnesses highlighted the importance of data in responding to the pandemic and acknowledged a key lesson from the last year was the need to improve the quality of data available to citizens and to government, including the quality and granularity of regional economic data, and improving the ability of different systems to talk to each other. Witnesses highlighted several initiatives that government is undertaking to achieve this. In addition to HMRC’s longstanding Making Tax Digita...

All of the witnesses highlighted the importance of data in responding to the pandemic and acknowledged a key lesson from the last year was the need to improve the quality of data available to citizens and to government, including the quality and granularity of regional economic data, and improving the ability of different systems to talk to each other. Witnesses highlighted several initiatives that government is undertaking to achieve this. In addition to HMRC’s longstanding Making Tax Digital programme, government is digitising paper records, developing a new digital identity system which will include 26 Committee of Public Accounts, Challen Type: conclusion | Number: 14 | Response status: not_addressed Government response: 2: PAC conclusion: Government’s ability to make well-informed decisions and address issues as they arise during the pandemic has been hampered by slow progress in addressing longstanding issues with data and legacy IT. 2a: PAC recommendation: HM Treasury and the