Forty-Eighth Report - Digital Services at the Border
Select Committee
Public Accounts Committee
HC 936
12 March 2021
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Forty-eighth report from Session 2019-21 · published 31 Aug 2021
Recommendations & Conclusions
10 results
1
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Based on a report by the Comptroller & Auditor General we took evidence from the...
Conclusion
Based on a report by the Comptroller & Auditor General we took evidence from the Home Office (the Department), including from Border Force, on progress with the Digital Services at the Border (DSAB) programme.1
Government Response Summary
The government provided its own introductory overview of the Digital Services at the Border programme, rather than engaging with the committee's initial descriptive statement about taking evidence.
HM Treasury
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7
Conclusion
Not Addressed
In a May 2016 Treasury Minute response to this Committee, the Department provided Parliament with...
Conclusion
In a May 2016 Treasury Minute response to this Committee, the Department provided Parliament with assurance over several aspects of DSAB. It committed to delivering Advanced Freight Targeting Capability in 2017 and to rolling out Border Crossing nationally by 2017. …
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Government Response Summary
The government stated it had nothing further to add to previous evidence, providing no new information or commitments regarding its past failures to deliver Advanced Freight Targeting Capability and Border Crossing systems by 2017.
HM Treasury
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8
Conclusion
Not Addressed
The Department noted that this was part of a wider pattern whereby those involved with...
Conclusion
The Department noted that this was part of a wider pattern whereby those involved with the programme wanted to present a positive direction for the programme to senior management at a time when the programme was struggling in 2017 and …
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Government Response Summary
The government declined to add anything further to its previous evidence, thus not addressing the committee's conclusion regarding failures in transparency and communication about program delays.
HM Treasury
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9
Conclusion
Not Addressed
The Department suggested that external factors had hindered the programme, noting that new requirements emerged...
Conclusion
The Department suggested that external factors had hindered the programme, noting that new requirements emerged following the EU Exit referendum results in 7 Q 45; C&AG’s report Progress delivering the Emergency Services Network, Session 2017–19, HC 2140, 10 May 2019, …
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Government Response Summary
The government stated it had nothing further to add to previous evidence, providing no new information or commitments regarding the external factors that hindered the Digital Services at the Border programme.
HM Treasury
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10
Conclusion
Not Addressed
The Department acknowledged that by the time of its reset, the programme had not delivered...
Conclusion
The Department acknowledged that by the time of its reset, the programme had not delivered the value for money that had originally been intended. The Department had delivered none of the three systems that it had intended to deliver on …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response addresses mechanisms for oversight and assurance of delivery and costs incurred from deviations, which is a different recommendation, and does not directly engage with the committee's conclusion about the past failure to deliver value for money.
HM Treasury
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14
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Some of the technical difficulties involved responding to the external factors that hindered the programme.
Conclusion
Some of the technical difficulties involved responding to the external factors that hindered the programme. For example, the Department created the Future Border and Immigration System (FBIS) programme in response to EU Exit which developed six new interfaces with which …
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Government Response Summary
The government stated it had nothing further to add to previous evidence, providing no new information or commitments regarding the technical difficulties and external factors that led to the programme's eventual reset.
HM Treasury
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16
Conclusion
Not Addressed
The Department acknowledged that it has faced strong competition for people with the scarce technical...
Conclusion
The Department acknowledged that it has faced strong competition for people with the scarce technical skills required to deliver the programme, including from other government departments. The Department has now designed framework contracts with outside suppliers so that it is …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response details technical improvements to the Border Crossing system, which does not address the committee's conclusion regarding the Department's challenges with scarce technical skills and its strategies for addressing resourcing issues.
HM Treasury
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17
Conclusion
Not Addressed
The latest roll-out of Border Crossing started on time at the beginning of December
Conclusion
The latest roll-out of Border Crossing started on time at the beginning of December
Government Response Summary
The government's response did not address the committee's observation that the Border Crossing roll-out started on time, instead providing information about setting out programme milestones.
HM Treasury
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18
Conclusion
Not Addressed
The Department has outlined plans to ensure Border Crossing systems are available at crossing points...
Conclusion
The Department has outlined plans to ensure Border Crossing systems are available at crossing points other than the 56 major entry points which will have permanent access to the system. The Department stated that this will involve a mobile capability …
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Government Response Summary
The government stated it had nothing further to add to previous evidence, providing no new information or commitments regarding the mobile capability for Border Crossing systems at non-major entry points.
HM Treasury
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20
Conclusion
Not Addressed
For the Department to deliver its planned improvements to border security, it is dependent on...
Conclusion
For the Department to deliver its planned improvements to border security, it is dependent on the quality of the data input into its information systems. This will include new system inputs from European Union countries after Schengen Information System II …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response explicitly addresses a different recommendation (regarding progress against milestones for related programmes and their impacts) and does not engage with the committee's conclusion on the UK's dependency on data quality and upload speed from other countries.
HM Treasury
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