The Department planned to have the original data platform in place in March 2023. However, the loan management system only went live in June 2024, 15 months later than originally planned. The Department’s decision to increase the scope of PwC’s work to develop the system contributed to it taking longer to deliver.23 It launched the system in June 2024 on the basis that it had in place the key operational functionality needed. However, Arts 16 Letter from DCMS Permanent Secretary, 25 February 2025; C&AG’s Report, paras 10 and 2.7 17 Qq 59, 61–63; C&AG’s Report, paras 10 and 2.7 18 Q 62; C&AG’s Report, paras 10 and 2.7 19 Qq 56–58, 61, 64; C&AG’s Report, para 1.16; 20 Qq 53, 64, 69 21 Q 68 22 Qq 61, 72, 84; Letter from DCMS Permanent Secretary, 25 February 2025 23 Q 53; C&AG’s Report, paras 10 and 2.8 11 Council England was concerned that the system was not providing the full functionality needed, with loan agents having to maintain their own spreadsheets that the system was meant to replace.24 In response, the Department told us that it was sometimes the case that there was a learning and testing period when new systems are launched, and that there should not be the need now for the kind of duplication involved in maintaining separate spreadsheets.25