Modernising ageing digital services

Defra should: a) develop an overall strategic digital vision to apply to the whole Defra Group and put in place governance and management structures to ensure that digital and data considerations are at the heart of the business transformation process. This should include providing a stronger steer on what design and architecture are needed to support business transformation to avoid opportunities for standardisation and rationalisation being missed

b) establish the senior leadership needed, for example through the appointment of a chief data officer, to develop common data models and standards that can be used to support better use of data where there are common capabilities such as grant payments

c) when new applications are being designed and built, ensure that opportunities for re-use across Defra Group are understood and built into the design

d) develop long-term priorities, timelines and funding requirements that extend beyond the stabilisation phase to maintain the momentum currently driving the Legacy Applications Programme as it progresses into the enhance and transform phase

e) carry out an analysis of the reasons recruitment is failing and work with Defra Group HR, the Central Digital and Data Offce and suppliers to develop solutions