The UK government has introduced the new Data Use and Access Bill, which they claim will harness the power of data to boost the UK economy by £10 billion and save millions of staff hours.

The bill targets data regulations and access for public services, including the police and the NHS, to cut down on admin and better harness personal and business data for easier transfer between services.

By unlocking the secure and effective use of data under the bill’s provisions, the UK government aims to make public services more efficient without adding pressures to the country’s finances.

Some of the key measures include cutting down on bureaucracy for police officers, to lessen the burden of administrative tasks, which would free up an estimated 1.5 million hours a year.

Key to the digitisation of the NHS, the bill will make patients’ data easily transferable across the NHS so that frontline staff can make better informed decisions for patients more quickly, freeing up 140,000 hours of NHS staff time every year, speeding up care and improving patient’s health outcomes.

The better use of data under measures in the bill also aim to simplify important tasks such as renting a flat and starting work with trusted ways to verify online identities, or enabling electronic registration of births and deaths, so that people and businesses can continue with their lives without unnecessary admins.

Vital safeguards will remain in place to track and monitor how personal data is used, giving peace of mind to patients and victims of crime. IT systems in the NHS operate to the highest standards of security and all organisations have governance arrangements in place to ensure the safe, legal storage and use of data.

“Data is the DNA of modern life and quietly drives every aspect of our society and economy without us even noticing – from our NHS treatments and social interactions to our business and banking transactions,” technology secretary Peter Kyle said.

“It has the enormous potential to make our lives better, boosting our National Health Service, cutting costs when we shop, and saving us valuable time.

“With laws that help us to use data securely and effectively, this Bill will help us boost the UK’s economy, free up vital time for our front-line workers, and relieve people from unnecessary admin so that they can get on with their lives.”

The bill, delivered by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, has three core objectives: growing the economy, improving UK public services, and making people’s lives easier.

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The measures will be underpinned by a revamped Information Commissioner’s Office, the UK’s independent authority responsible for regulating data protection and privacy laws, with a new structure and powers of enforcement – ensuring people’s personal data will be protected to high standards.

“Data underpins every part of our economy and society, offering significant opportunities both for economic growth and public service reform through improved access and use of data,” Neil Ross, associate director for policy, techUK commented.

“This Bill marks the start of a welcome effort from the new Government to unlock the power of data, through initiatives on digital ID, Smart Data, digitising key public registers and assets, and reforming the data protection laws.

“These legislative changes strike the right balance between maintaining the UK’s existing high data protection standards and driving forward essential reform. However, they must be coupled with the cultural and organisational mindset shift required to seize the full potential advantages of new data-driven technologies.

“techUK looks forward to continuing to work with the Government as it commits to this reform agenda with the potential to provide significant benefits for economic growth and public services.”