Recommendation 26

Ahead of the end of the transition period departments focused on putting in place an initial operating capability at the UK border. The new IT systems, or changes to existing systems, required to provide this capability were all delivered as planned for the end of the transition period. The NAO reports that considerable work is needed to move beyond this initial capability and deliver the additional capacity needed to deal with 70 Q 25 71 Q 60 72 Q 115 73 Q 161 74 Qq 184, 186 75 Qq 147, 148 76 Q 179 77 HM Government, 2025 UK Border Strategy, CP 352, December 2020 78 C&AG’s Report, para 3.42 79 BUDGET 2021: Protecting the jobs and livelihoods of the British people (publishing.service.gov.uk), paras 2.190, 4.109 80 Q 172 18 EU Exit: UK Border post transition increased volumes of declarations, ensure the resilience of systems and provide additional functionality to support the introduction of full import controls.81 Our recent report on Challenges in implementing digital change highlighted that delivering complex, large-scale digital programmes remains very challenging for government.82 For example, the Home Office’s programme to replace the police national computer has been delayed by at least five years and seen cost overruns of more than £400 million.83