Chamber and committees

The strategy includes a measurement framework which sets out our high-level approach to monitoring benefits. Individual workstreams responsible for specific strategy actions have methodologies setting out our in-depth approach to monitoring benefits – these methodologies are commensurate to the size and maturity of each workstream. We have also commissioned reports from external consultants to provide independent view of progress on benefits.

The total amount spent on digital skills training within Scottish Government is not held centrally. Each Scottish Government Directorate manages their own training budget and training is based on workstream /individual requirements. The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

In September 2017, the Scottish Government’s Digital Directorate increased the training options available through the launch of the Scottish Digital Academy. This aims to close recognised skills gaps through courses, in subjects such as agile project management, and has delivered training to over 1,200 delegates since that time.

I refer the member to the answer to S5W-24026 on 29 July 2019 for an explanation of budget allocation to date. Future investment is part of the challenging considerations we have in setting our 2019-20 Programme for Government and Spending Review plans.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Digital Directorate both arranges and attends a number of public sector conferences to promote its transformation capability.

Senior members of the directorate also sit on corporate and programme boards where they are able to identify where support is required and signpost the services on offer.

The Digital Directorate’s IT desktop and infrastructure services are publicised through the Scottish Government intranet, Saltire. This includes a service catalogue where employees can request licenses, software etc. and such requests are processed through authorisation and delivery. Services are also promoted by a small group of digital business partners who are able to work with different teams across the Scottish Government and resolve issues as they arise.

We are expanding the Saltire catalogue to include a wider range of services in particular software development, digital publishing and digital advice.

All significant digital projects undergo a number of Digital First Assessment as part of the governance process. This is also an opportunity to offer specific assistance from the Digital Directorate if it is appropriate.

The 2019-20 Budget Bill sets out the allocation for the Scottish Government to spend on the full range of digital priorities aligned with the digital strategy.

In addition to this central allocation, organisations advance their digital investment through individual budget allocations. Central Government Digital projects are registered with the Scottish Government, and the total of estimated whole life costs currently held for these projects is £1.1bn. A breakdown of this figure was provided by the Scottish Government to the Public Audit and Post Legislative Scrutiny Committee in May 2019.

I refer the member to the answer to S5W-24035 on 29 July 2019 for an explanation of how the Scottish Government monitors progress on delivering its digital strategy. Included in this monitoring process are actions pertaining to Scottish public sector bodies.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Our Digital Strategy for Scotland sets out our ‘Cloud First’ ambitions for public sector data hosting. We support the adoption of Cloud solutions and are working with public sector partners, such as Disclosure Scotland and the Scottish Social Security Agency, to move their services to the Cloud.

The Scottish Government has developed a suite of Cloud-based services and our Digital First Standard enables us to monitor the adoption and use of Cloud solutions by central government organisations. The new Cloud Service Procurements Framework reinforces our ‘Cloud First’ ambition by providing access for the Scottish public sector to services that will enable cloud migration.

I refer the Member to the answer to question S5W-24023 on 29 July 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Scottish Government Digital Transformation Division is currently supporting 14 programmes of varying size across government.

The Scottish Government published the Public Sector Action Plan on Cyber Resilience in November 2017 and has provided public sector bodies with an implementation tool kit, draft supply chain cyber security guidance, Cyber Incident Response guidance and a Central Incident Notification and Coordination policy to support a consistent approach to cyber security across the public sector.

More than 45 public sector bodies are directly provided with ICT services and support from the Scottish Government and 62 public sector bodies have received funding towards Cyber Essentials pre-assessments to promote consistency across the wider sector in securing public sector systems against the most common cyber risks.