Digital Strategy

WQ.4/2020

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE

MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM, SPORT AND CULTURE BY DEPUTY R.J. WARD OF ST. HELIER

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 21st JANUARY 2020

Question

Given that the 2016 Digital Policy Framework stated that "Success' will be the Digital Policy Framework in action, being applied across every area of government, every industry and in the lives of every Islander", will the Minister state –

1. how the success of the 2016 Framework has been rated;
2. what success criteria were used in making this judgement; and
3. what success criteria are being used for the new digital strategy?

Answer

The Digital Policy Framework (the Framework) published in 2016 sets out six core long-term objectives for the future of digital policy-making in Jersey. These provide a broad structure designed to guide the development of digital policy by the Government of Jersey and its partners. The Framework was developed by the Digital Policy Unit in conjunction with departments across the Government and partners including Digital Jersey, all of whom play a part in the ongoing delivery of the objectives.

The Framework had not been formally assessed. This was never the intention because it is an overarching guidance document not an action plan. However, outputs that flow from it that show it is succeeding and the KPIs have largely been met.

1. The success of the Framework is measured by progress against the high-level Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) set out in the document. the Framework has set clear priorities and principles not just for the Digital Policy Unit but for all government departments and arm's-length bodies that are involved in digital policy. Key strategic documents such as the Telecoms Strategy and the Cyber Security Strategy as well as Digital Jersey's Business Plans have been designed to help deliver the Framework's objectives. The strategies and policies that have been further developed under the overarching umbrella of the Framework contain more detailed actions and goals and additional KPIs.
2. Key deliverables and developments (set out below) illustrate the progress made towards delivering the objectives. Thee are effectively the success criteria'.

Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture:

Advanced Digital Infrastructure

• Completion of the island-wide fibre broadband rollout (April 2019).

• Final switchover of all premises to fibre is almost complete to ensure that everyone has the ability to access broadband at speeds of 1 Gigabit per second.

• Publication of the first cross-government Telecoms Strategy (January 2019).

• Initiation of testing of 5G in 2019 and preparation to allow for the release of the spectrum for commercial 5G from 2020.

Robust Cyber Security

• Publication of the Government's first Cyber Security Strategy (October 2017).

• Completion of a pan-island feasibility study into the development of a joint Channel Islands Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) (2019).

• Launch of the second island-wide cyber security maturity assessment (December 2019).

• Regular cyber security awareness sessions and training campaigns for businesses and islanders (2018 onwards).

Secure Data Protection

• Adoption of the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018 and the Data Protection Authority (Jersey) Law 2018 (May 2018).

• Establishment of a new regulator with greater powers and duties and a new operating model (May 2018).

• Development - in conjunction with the Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner - of a new fee model for the regulator (2019).

A Thriving Digital Sector

• Digital Jersey published the TechNation report in 2018 to measure and assess the Island's digital sector. It found that the Jersey tech sector has grown by over 100 jobs each year for the past nine years.

• The 2019 Labour Market Report published by Statistics Jersey recognised for the first time the growing contribution of the digital industries to the Island's economy and workforce. It reported a total of 1,870 jobs in the narrowly defined digital' sector in 2019 and a further 2,440 jobs in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications sector.

• Digital Jersey consider the digital tech GVA in Jersey was just over £180 million in 2018

• Digital Jersey continues to work towards creating the right conditions for digital businesses to start and grow and to support businesses in becoming internationally competitive.

Minister for Education:

Digital Skills For All

• Launch of the Digital Skills Strategy 2018 to 2023 (2018).

• Formation of the Digital Skills Partnership (July 2018).

• Launch of the new Digital Jersey Academy, bringing a world-class learning facility to Jersey's community, and the launch of a new, two-year, qualification called the Digital Leadership Programme (2019).

• Doubling the number of students studying IT subjects at GCSE or equivalent between 2017 and 2019.

3. There are currently no plans to develop a new digital strategy. However, Deputy Wickenden is leading on the Technology Transformation Plan (TTP), which is an initiative that relates to the digital transformation of the Government itself. This aims to provide:

• Better service to islanders.

• An efficient and effective modern government.

• A secure and resilient operation.