Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Accepted
Ensure digital investment and systems align with Defra Group's future structure to avoid rebuilding.
Recommendation
Defra is at risk of wasting money on digital services because it has not yet taken decisions on business transformation. In parallel with its work on legacy, Defra is embarking on a fundamental review of the structure of its organisation, including potentially major structural changes to the bodies and organisations that form the Defra Group. Some decisions about digital services need to be taken without delay. But without clarity on what the transformed Defra will look like, it is difficult for its digital specialists to prepare. If Defra makes decisions and undertakes work as part of improving its digital services before it has decided the future shape and structure of its business operations or before it has determined what its digital requirements are, it risks limiting the usefulness of the systems and causing future problems. It has assured us that it would not invest in building new digital systems that would have to be rebuilt to fit its new business model. Recommendation 4: As part of the Treasury Minute response, Defra should set out how it will ensure that investment and new digital systems put in place before it has made key decisions about the future shape, structure and digital needs of the Defra Group, will not need not to be rebuilt.
Government Response Summary
Defra explains that its existing governance structures, including a single Portfolio Approval Board and Technical Design Authority, ensure digital investments are consistent with its overall transformation and designed with modern, reusable architecture to prevent rebuilding. A full refresh of Defra Group Architectural Policies and Standards is also set to complete in 2023.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented The majority of Defra’s investment in new digital systems is overseen by Defra’s ExCo, Delivery Committee and Investment Committee. Smaller projects are part of a wider portfolio overseen by a cross Defra and arm’s length body prioritisation group. All that work is consistent with the digital approach approved by ExCo and is being developed as an integrated part of the overall Defra transformation. All digital projects in Defra and its biggest arm’s length bodies are governed by a single Portfolio Approval Board and a single Technical Design Authority. These ensure that projects meet common Defra standards on digital, data, technology, security, sustainability, and resilience. All digital delivery is carried out by the Digital Data and Technology Services (DDTS) function or by suppliers managed by DDTS. These groups ensure that Defra’s systems comply with CDDO and Defra data and architecture standards, guardrails. Defra’s Investment Committee, including the Chief Digital and Information Officer, provides oversight of all major investments to ensure projects and programmes meet the needs of Defra Group, not just project requirements. This ensures that Defra’s new digital systems are designed on a modern, composable architecture which will deliver common technology capabilities, platforms and components that maximise reusability. For example, they will make full use of modern cloud-based technologies, a common delivery platform and other design features which will allow the future reconfiguration of services. Digital transformation is a core component of Defra's wider transformation programme and currently identifying cross-cutting business activities that occur across the group. This will enable more consistent delivery models and processes, for areas such as delivering grants and licensing and permitting services. Defra has also started a full re-fresh of Defra Group Architectural Policies and Standards which will complete in 2023.