Committee chair calls for government to clarify DSIT break-up plans

Dame Chi Onwurah, Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, has written to three Secretaries of State requesting clarification on the government's plans to abolish the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Following the Prime Minister's Cabinet announcements on 21 July, DSIT's responsibilities are set to be redistributed across the Cabinet Office and two restructured departments: the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST), and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Expressing concern over the lack of a detailed operational statement two weeks after the new government took office, the letter highlights the risks associated with the restructuring. While acknowledging potential merit in embedding DSIT's policy areas across government, Dame Chi warned that the changes could result in fragmented policy delivery and cause vital issues to lose priority.

Dame Chi urged the government to urgently clarify its plans and confirm which ministers will oversee implementation. She also confirmed that her committee will scrutinise the transition in detail when Parliament returns in September.

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