Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people will be employed by the GovTech Catalyst; from what professions those employees will come; and what pay scales they will be on.

A small dedicated GovTech Catalyst team based in the Government Digital Service will operate at the heart of government, from the Government Digital Service, and alongside Innovate UK oversee a new £20 million fund to help tech firms deliver innovative fixes to public sector challenges. The team will be benefit from expertise of officials across government and will work to boost productivity in the public sector by helping public bodies identify challenges they face that could be solved by new digital technologies. The new Catalyst team will act as a ‘front door’ to tech firms, giving them a clear access point where they can put forward their innovative ideas. Work is ongoing to define the roles of the Catalyst team.