Foreign Affairs Committee publishes “Encoding values” Government response
24 October 2022
The Foreign Affairs Committee today publishes the Government response to its report “Encoding values: Putting tech at the heart of UK foreign policy”.
The Special Report responds positively to a number of recommendations made by the Foreign Affairs Committee.
New Technology Centre of Expertise
In its report, the Committee underscored the need for “the UK’s global technology leadership ambitions” to be “Government-led”, and to work with other countries to counter the rise of digital authoritarianism. In today’s Government response, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) announces its new Technology Centre of Expertise.
Tech envoy network expansion
In March 2022, when the Committee questioned Amanda Milling, Minister of State for Asia at the FCDO on the status of the tech envoy role, Ms Milling stated that the FCDO needed “to take the time to look at the role, to ensure that it is working and see how we might enhance and evolve it”.
In the Government response, the department announces the expansion of the tech envoy network and role.
FCDO and industry exchange programme
The Committee’s report recommended “that the FCDO prioritises engaging with product teams and technologists, rather than only policy teams, to gain a clearer understanding of the activities of companies that are developing and implementing new technologies”.
In the Government response, the FCDO announces an exchange programme for FCDO officials and technology companies.
Chair's comment
Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Alicia Kearns MP, said:
“I am pleased to see a number of the recommendations put forward by the Foreign Affairs Committee accepted and actioned by the Foreign Office.
“In ‘Encoding Values’ we emphasised the powerful impact that technology has in all facets modern life and called for the Foreign Office to place higher priority on tech policy. The announcement of the new Technology Centre of Expertise is a concrete step in the right direction.
“Throughout our inquiry we pressed the Foreign Office on the future of the tech envoy initiative. I welcome their announcement that this network will now be expanded. This promises to strengthen the visibility of the UK’s technology leadership on the global stage.
“In our report we called for the Foreign Office to pull in expertise from tech companies. Technology develops at breakneck speed and without insider knowledge policy often lags behind. I am delighted to see that the Foreign Office is establishing a new exchange programme offering FCDO officials the opportunity to undertake placements in private tech companies. It’s these kind of innovative ideas that will ensure policymakers have all the information they need at their disposal.
“These are positive steps, yet the proof of the pudding is in the eating. We await the FCDO’s forthcoming International Technology Strategy with much anticipation. The Committee’s scrutiny in this area will continue and I look forward to following up with the Government to ensure that these promises progress from words to delivery.”
Further information
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