Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 20
20
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 (SIS II) uploads and records were removed from UK systems following the end of the transition period.39 These inputs will be replaced by uploads and records from Interpol. With either SIS II or Interpol, the UK is dependent on the speed with which other countries upload information onto these systems.40
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
6: PAC conclusion: The Department’s ambitions for the border and its delivery of practical improvements for users depend upon it coordinating the implementation of the Digital Services at the Border programme with the delivery of several related projects. 6a: PAC recommendation: The Department should set out progress against planned milestones for related programmes, any impacts on frontline Border Force staff, people using border services and what it is doing to mitigate these impacts 6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 6.2 Progress against planned milestones is set against a managed set of dependencies which have been captured and are tracked and reviewed within the programme and wider portfolio. As part of this 2 2 process, any impacts would be mitigated and would form part of feedback process via the business change team to the frontline and back, ensuring all changes are embedded effectively and efficiently for go-live of the system. 6.3 Border Force staff will experience no degradation of frontline capability, and it will add more functionality and improve the operability beyond what was originally envisaged. Passengers using border services will receive an improved journey experience through the UK primary check points, but there will be no physical change. 6.4 The department provides updates to the Border Immigration and Citizenship Systems (BICS) Transformation board as to progress against milestones to align with related programmes. 6.5 Digitising the Border (DtB) (permission to travel systems) within the Future Borders and Immigration System (FBIS), Cerberus (watchlisting and intelligence) and eGates (connection with Border Crossing), all related programmes all attend the department’s programme board, have access to published plans and can confidently and openly challenge progress of milestones against delivery plans and track resolution activity. None have reported delays or detrimental impacts to their milestones in relation to delivery activity, and all are progressing against their own milestones.