Thirtieth Report - Challenges in implementing digital change
Select Committee
Public Accounts Committee
HC 637
10 December 2021
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Thirtieth report from Session 2021-22 · published 1 Mar 2022
Recommendations & Conclusions
10 results
8
Recommendation
Accepted
The risks associated with legacy systems include that they can be difficult and expensive to...
Recommendation
The risks associated with legacy systems include that they can be difficult and expensive to support, lack operational resilience for key government services, and be vulnerable to cyber-attack. This exposes government to what is likely to be an uncertain but …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation, committing to work with departments to map and prioritise high-risk legacy systems, establish a common methodology by the end of 2022, and agree remediation plans, with progress monitored through quarterly reviews.
HM Treasury
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9
Conclusion
Accepted
Departments typically do not have a good understanding of their IT estate, legacy systems are...
Conclusion
Departments typically do not have a good understanding of their IT estate, legacy systems are often poorly understood because of their age, and replacing these systems 10 Q 7 11 Dr Jerry Fishenden, Professor Mark Thompson and Assistant Professor Will …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepted the implicit recommendation to map and prioritise legacy IT systems, committing the CDDO to establish a common methodology and agree remediation plans across departments by the end of 2022.
HM Treasury
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11
Recommendation
Accepted
Government has developed several systems to meet new requirements, such as for checking and processing...
Recommendation
Government has developed several systems to meet new requirements, such as for checking and processing applications under the EU Settlement Scheme. However, the deadline for EU Exit and Government decisions on the timetable for withdrawing the rights previously exercised by …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation to develop more joined-up systems, setting an implementation target of end-December 2022. It outlines plans for wholesale digital transformation led by CDDO, including establishing funding and governance models, prioritising automation opportunities, and identifying critical services for transformation.
HM Treasury
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12
Recommendation
Accepted
The Cabinet Office pointed to the role that central platforms such as GOV.UK Pay and...
Recommendation
The Cabinet Office pointed to the role that central platforms such as GOV.UK Pay and Notify have played, for example sending alerts and test results to citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.31 But the functions they perform are relatively straightforward commodity …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the need for deeper transformation and better skills, setting an implementation target of end-December 2022. It outlines plans for wholesale digital transformation led by CDDO, which will include identifying critical services for redesign and providing targeted interventions to achieve more fundamental change.
HM Treasury
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13
Recommendation
Accepted
Government has not properly structured and resourced technology departments against good standards.
Recommendation
Government has not properly structured and resourced technology departments against good standards. This makes it difficult to manage the integration and connections between different systems, especially legacy systems, both within and outside programmes.34 This lack of resource and structure means …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation, committing to develop guidance on legacy integration and mandate rigorous design, data, and infrastructure controls, with CDDO working with departments to improve management of large-scale transitions and monitoring adherence by the end of December 2022.
HM Treasury
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14
Conclusion
Accepted
Government’s central digital functions are relatively immature.
Conclusion
Government’s central digital functions are relatively immature. Government only created the Central Digital and Data Office this year and set up the other central functions within the last decade. The Cabinet Office told us that they have started to strengthen …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepted the implicit recommendation to strengthen central digital oversight, committing the CDDO to work with departments to improve large-scale programme management and monitor the cross-government legacy estate by the end of 2022.
HM Treasury
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15
Recommendation
Accepted
According to a recent report, government has had to rely on external contractors and consultants...
Recommendation
According to a recent report, government has had to rely on external contractors and consultants to make critical decisions on core design and architecture choices, which need a long-term and holistic view across government.38 The report recommends government creates a …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation to create a strong central team for digital standards and has a target implementation date of Summer 2022. It is publishing an updated DDaT Functional Standard and Assessment Framework and working on more detailed guidance and a DDaT Playbook.
HM Treasury
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16
Conclusion
Accepted
Funding for departmental technology functions is often not allocated in a way that enables them...
Conclusion
Funding for departmental technology functions is often not allocated in a way that enables them to both run and update their core systems and support business transformation. This Committee has seen in other digital programmes that the current spending review …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the observation and is investing £2.6 billion in cyber and legacy IT. CDDO is establishing a common methodology for identifying legacy risk by the end of 2022 and will work with departments to agree and monitor remediation plans.
HM Treasury
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18
Conclusion
Accepted
Departments have made technology choices too early in the life of digital programmes before they...
Conclusion
Departments have made technology choices too early in the life of digital programmes before they have fully understood the business problem the programme is seeking to address.42 Departments have then over specified supplier contracts to a degree of detail which …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees and CDDO is working to implement systemic changes by the end of 2022, focusing on funding, business, and governance models for digital transformation. CDDO will also support departments in prioritising automation opportunities and transforming critical public services.
HM Treasury
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19
Conclusion
Accepted
Ten years ago, government had little in-house digital capability and outsourced most technology programmes.47 The...
Conclusion
Ten years ago, government had little in-house digital capability and outsourced most technology programmes.47 The Cabinet Office blamed the failure of many programmes in the past on too much outsourcing of poorly understood services, and insufficient resourcing of the intelligent …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation to improve departments’ approach to IT operations, setting a Summer 2022 target for implementing an updated DDaT Functional Standard and Assessment Framework.
HM Treasury
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