The Cabinet Office explained that the Digital function has made progress identifying the cost savings of moving to permanent staff from contract labour and, as part of this, the function has recognised the indirect cost benefit of retaining skills within the organisation. It also told us that the maturity of the Commercial function meant that it is able to point to direct savings as a result of its work, and told us that the increasing standardisation of processes across government—particular...

The Cabinet Office explained that the Digital function has made progress identifying the cost savings of moving to permanent staff from contract labour and, as part of this, the function has recognised the indirect cost benefit of retaining skills within the organisation. It also told us that the maturity of the Commercial function meant that it is able to point to direct savings as a result of its work, and told us that the increasing standardisation of processes across government—particularly in the Finance and HR functions—will generate future savings which are likely to stem from increasing automation.35 Type: conclusion | Number: 19 | Response status: not_addressed Government response: 6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: April 2021 6.2 In 2020, the measuring the impact of government functions (to deliver better outcomes and public services) project, commissioned by the Civil Service Chief Operating Officer from the Chief Exe