Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 27
27
Accepted
Department has not decided ESN operational responsibility, pausing live service planning.
Recommendation
The Department has not yet decided who will be responsible for running ESN and has paused work planning the live service operations.91 The fire service said it had seen limited lack information about how this would work, for example, it was not clear whether Home Office would run ESN as happens with Airwave.92 We asked whether the prioritisation of ESN communications over the general public risked a reduced public service during an emergency. The Independent Assurance Panel told us that while prioritisation is not an ‘on/off’ switch, proper network management is needed to ensure the network functions appropriately.93 Avoiding another monopoly supplier
Government Response Summary
The government agrees on the need for clear responsibilities and plans for ESN live operations, committing to define and implement the overall Programme Operating model by March 2024, including establishing a User Services supplier as the Service Integrator and a new billing model.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: March 2024 5.2 The government agrees with the need to ensure there are clear responsibilities and plans in place for operating ESN when it goes live. 5.3 The department’s current contracts define the core elements of the live service model, including the roles of the key suppliers for User Services, Mobile Services, and other suppliers. 5.4 The User Services supplier will take on the role as ‘Service Integrator’ providing all user groups with a single ‘entry point’ for service and support. Following Motorola’s exit from the programme, the Department has updated the definition of the Service Integrator role based on experience to date. 5.5 The department has developed a new model for User Organisation billing, which will be implemented through the new User Services contract. 5.6 The Programme Manager will work with the Leadership team, users, suppliers and recently appointed Live Service Manager to complete definition and implementation of the overall Programme Operating model.