Title: Terms of Reference for the Ministerial Group for Digital Inclusion

In an era where digital access shapes everyday life, having a clear, well-structured framework for leadership and oversight is essential. The following draft terms of reference outlines how a Ministerial Group for Digital Inclusion can provide strategic direction, coordinate cross‑department policy, and drive measurable progress toward universal digital inclusion. It is designed to be adaptable to different governance contexts while maintaining a consistent standard of accountability and transparency.

Purpose
– To provide strategic leadership and directional coherence for national digital inclusion policy across government.
– To coordinate policy development and implementation across departments and sectors to promote universal, affordable, safe, and inclusive digital access.
– To monitor progress against national digital inclusion targets and to identify and address cross‑cutting barriers.
– To advise ministers on policy trade-offs, resource allocation, and prioritisation to advance digital inclusion objectives.
– To uphold standards for data protection, privacy, equality, and public service design in digital initiatives.
– To ensure effective engagement with stakeholders and the public to reflect diverse needs and experiences.

Scope
– The Group covers policy areas that influence digital inclusion, including but not limited to connectivity and device access; digital skills and literacy; affordable services; inclusive design of public services; accessibility; digital safety and safeguarding; and the digital economy as it relates to inclusion.
– The Group exercises governance and coordination on cross‑department initiatives, programmes, and reforms that impact inclusion in the digital space.
– The Group does not undertake day‑to‑day service delivery or procurement for individual departments; such activities remain with the responsible departments, supported by the central secretariat as required.

Membership
– Chair: A serving minister (or senior official, as appropriate in the governance model) responsible for digital policy or the lead department for digital inclusion.
– Core members: Ministers or permanent secretaries (or equivalent senior officials) from relevant departments, such as the department leading digital policy, education, work and pensions, housing, health, local government, and other departments as necessary to address cross‑cutting issues.
– Observers: Representatives from devolved administrations, local government associations, regulators, industry, civil society, and academia, who may participate in discussions but do not vote.
– Secretariat: A dedicated team from the lead department or a jointly funded cross‑government unit responsible for scheduling, briefing, record‑keeping, and progress tracking.

Chair and Secretariat
– The Chair sets the agenda, chairs meetings, and ensures timely follow‑through on decisions.
– The Secretariat prepares papers, distributes materials in advance, records minutes, tracks action points, and maintains the group’s governance artefacts.
– Secretariat duties include coordinating cross‑department collaboration, monitoring milestones, and producing annual and ad‑hoc reporting.

Roles and Responsibilities
– Members: Contribute expertise, champion digital inclusion within their departments, provide policy analysis, and secure cross‑department buy‑in for group decisions.
– Observers: Provide sectoral perspectives and specialised input as invited, contributing to informed discussion without affecting voting.
– Chair: Guides deliberations, ensures focus on strategic objectives, resolves scheduling and procedural issues, and escalates matters as needed.
– Secretariat: Manages meeting logistics, maintains records, supports evidence‑based decision making, and monitors delivery against milestones.

Decision Making and Governance
– Decision framework: Where feasible, decisions are reached by consensus among voting members. When consensus cannot be reached, decisions may be taken by a majority vote of voting members present, with observers not participating in votes.
– Quorum: A minimum of two departments represented, with at least one from the lead policy domain and one cross‑cutting department, to enable cross‑department decision making.
– Escalation: If decisions have significant policy, legal, or financial implications, or if there is a persistent deadlock, issues may be escalated to the Ministerial Coordinating Group or equivalent higher governance body.
– Transparency: Agreed decisions and rationale are published in summary form, subject to security, privacy, and commercial constraints.

Meetings, Papers and Reporting
– Frequency: The Group shall meet at least quarterly, with additional meetings convened as required.
– Paper discipline: Reports, briefing papers, and decision memoranda should be circulated in advance to allow informed discussion.
– Minutes and records: Minutes, attendance, and action logs are published and retained by the Secretariat in accordance with government record‑keeping standards.
– Reporting lines: The Group reports to the cabinet committee or ministerial coordinating structures as appropriate, with regular updates on progress against milestones and KPIs.

Deliverables and Milestones
– An annual Digital Inclusion Strategy that sets out priorities, targets, and delivery plans across departments.
– Quarterly progress dashboards that track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to access, skills, affordability, inclusivity, and service design.
– Policy guidance and impact assessments for cross‑department initiatives to ensure alignment with inclusion objectives and statutory duties.
– Public-facing updates describing progress, challenges, and next steps.

Stakeholder Engagement
– The Group will maintain constructive engagement with external stakeholders, including industry, civil society, academia, and local government, ensuring that diverse voices inform policy choices.
– Stakeholder input should be incorporated through formal consultation processes, expert advisory groups, and targeted workshops as appropriate.
– Communications should be clear about aims, impact, and accountability, avoiding jargon and ensuring accessibility.

Data, Privacy and Security
– All work under the Group shall comply with data protection laws, privacy obligations, and security standards.
– Data used for policy analysis and progress reporting must be governed by appropriate data governance arrangements and minimised where possible.
– Any public dashboards or reporting should present information in a way that respects privacy and safeguards sensitive data.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
– The Group shall ensure that digital inclusion policies promote equality of opportunity and do not exacerbate existing inequalities.
– All policy development and review consider potential impacts on protected groups under equality duties, with appropriate mitigation strategies where necessary.

Risks and Mitigations
– Political or policy shifts: Build broad departmental ownership and regular reaffirmation of objectives.
– Delivery risks across departments: Establish clear milestones, accountable owners, and escalation routes.
– Data and privacy risks: Adhere to robust governance, access controls, and privacy by design.
– Engagement gaps: Maintain ongoing stakeholder liaison and inclusive design approaches.

Resources and Budget
– The Secretariat will require dedicated personnel and budgetary provision to support scheduling, analysis, documentation, and reporting.
– Cross‑department workstreams may mobilise programme budgets as necessary, with visible alignment to the annual plan and governance approvals.

Review and Amendment of the ToR
– These Terms of Reference should be reviewed annually or when significant changes in policy, governance structures, or legal requirements occur.
– Amendments require approval through the appropriate ministerial governance process.

Term and Termination
– The Group is established for an initial term with a clear review point, after which a decision will be taken on continuation, modification, or termination based on progress against objectives and evolving policy needs.
– In the event of a major governance reform or departmental restructuring, the ToR may be updated to reflect new arrangements.

Draft Terms of Reference (Illustrative)
– For organisations considering a concrete starting point, the following draft language can be adapted:
– The Ministerial Group for Digital Inclusion (the Group) is established to provide strategic oversight and cross‑government coordination for digital inclusion policy. The Group will:
– Inform and harmonise policy across departments to improve access, skills, affordability, and inclusive design in digital services.
– Set and monitor headline targets and indicators, publishing regular progress reports.
– Ensure policy coherence with data protection, privacy, equality duties, and safeguarding obligations.
– Engage with stakeholders to capture diverse perspectives and to promote transparent accountability.
– Report to the relevant cabinet committee, with annual reviews of the Group’s effectiveness and governance arrangements.

Conclusion
A well‑defined Terms of Reference for the Ministerial Group for Digital Inclusion helps translate high‑level commitments into coordinated action. It clarifies who does what, how decisions are made, and how success is measured. By establishing clear governance, accountability, and inclusive engagement, the Group can drive meaningful progress toward a more digitally inclusive society.

If you’d like, I can tailor this draft to a specific governance structure or policy context, or provide a redraft in a shorter executive summary format suitable for publication on a government or policy-focused site.

April 24, 2026 at 10:10AM
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