Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Accepted
APHA's modernisation programme progressing, but full system digitisation will take many years.
Conclusion
APHA has established its Delivering Sustainable Futures programme as the main programme to modernise its systems and has initially started on smaller projects relating to plant health and bees. Its plant and bee inspectors in the field now have digital technology which allows them to report in real-time. APHA said that this has resulted in efficiencies of around 30%. APHA is aiming to roll this technology out to its animal inspectors in 2026. The Department confirmed funding of £62.8 million over the period to 2029–30 to support APHA’s modernisation programme. APHA stated that it would not be fully paperless in five years’ time as the programme had to cover a wide range of its systems, and that it needed to undertake a fundamental assessment of the information it is collecting and redesign its systems to support these requirements.23 22 Qq 14-15 23 Qq 14-18 12 2 Strengthening long-term resilience to animal diseases National Biosecurity Centre at Weybridge
Government Response Summary
The Delivering Sustainable Futures (DSF) Programme has a £10.9 million funding provision for 2025-26 and approximately the same year on year until 2029-30, totalling £62.8 million over the six years and will pivot to commence end- to-end services from 2026-27. It will include a digital customer contact form (spring 2026), a platform for endemic and exotic licencing capability (spring 2026), workforce management (summer 2026), and risk-based determination of disease movement licence applications (autumn 2026).
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: February 2027 4.2 The Delivering Sustainable Futures (DSF) Programme has a £10.9 million funding provision for 2025-26 and approximately the same year on year until 2029-30, totalling £62.8 million over the six years. The programme provides APHA with a clear plan for transforming end-to-end disease and pest management processes and systems. 4.3 This programme of work enables innovation, using automation, self-service and modern digital tools to streamline and standardise APHA’s services and improve efficiency of delivery and statutory duties such as inspections. 4.4 DSF Programme focus in 2025-26 is on building core capabilities and will pivot to commence end- to-end services from 2026-27. Due to complete by spring 2026, a digital customer contact form is being designed and developed, which will replace approximately 36 external APHA mailboxes, and enable the collation of customer data insights whilst improving customer contact. 4.5 From spring 2026 APHA will have a strategic platform for endemic and exotic licencing capability. 4.6 From summer 2026 APHA will commence workforce management and in field data capture for a priority animal inspection service. 4.7 From autumn 2026 APHA will commence risk-based determination of disease movement licence applications. 4.8 In the 2026-27 development of a customer-facing portal will commence, which will allow customers to update and maintain their data and view licence application status. 4.9 Progress toward these milestones is dependent on future funding arrangements, and additional funding may be required.