As part of its review of legacy applications, Defra told us it had decommissioned over 30 IT systems because more modern alternatives were available. It explained that this had improved its internal efficiency and created cost savings. Defra estimated that it needs to spend £726 million on modernising legacy services between 2021 and 2025. Defra told us that it considered that there was scope for saving £20–25 million per year if 42 Qq 50–51; Central Digital and Data Office, Transforming for a digital future: 2022 to 2025 roadmap for digital and data, 9 June 2022 43 Q 49 44 Qq 49, 76 45 Q 48, C&AG’s Report, para 1.19 46 Q 48; C&AG’s Report, paras 2.8, 2.15 47 Qq 48, 51, 56–57 48 Q 51 16 Tackling Defra’s ageing digital services it modernised all its IT.49 However, Defra did not record the additional costs of continuing to use legacy services such as manual processes, where outdated technology added to the cost of operating services. For example, it could not tell us how many additional people it employed because of the legacy systems it used.50 Collaboration across government – the role of the Central Data & Digital Office (CDDO)