Source · National Audit Office

Modernising ageing digital services

Published: 6 Dec 2022 Recommendations: 6 Type: Value for Money NAO confirmed: 6

NAO report detail with recommendations, government responses, and any Public Accounts Committee follow-up.

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Recommendations

6 items

6 accepted 5 implemented

Rec	Recommendation	Addressee	Acceptance	Implementation
1	Defra should: a) develop an overall strategic digital vision to apply to the whole Defra Group and put in place governance and management structures to ensure that digital and data considerations are at the heart of the business transformation process. This should include providing a stronger steer on what design and architecture are needed to support business transformation to avoid opportunities for standardisation and rationalisation being missed Ref Page 11, paragraph 24, point a · Implemented Q4 2023-24	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
2	b) establish the senior leadership needed, for example through the appointment of a chief data officer, to develop common data models and standards that can be used to support better use of data where there are common capabilities such as grant payments Ref Page 11, paragraph 24, point b · Implemented Q4 2024-25	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
3	c) when new applications are being designed and built, ensure that opportunities for re-use across Defra Group are understood and built into the design Ref Page 11, paragraph 24, point c · Implemented Q4 2023-24	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
4	d) develop long-term priorities, timelines and funding requirements that extend beyond the stabilisation phase to maintain the momentum currently driving the Legacy Applications Programme as it progresses into the enhance and transform phase Ref Page 11, paragraph 24, point d · Implemented Q2 2024-25	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
5	e) carry out an analysis of the reasons recruitment is failing and work with Defra Group HR, the Central Digital and Data Offce and suppliers to develop solutions Ref Page 11, paragraph 24, point e · Implemented Q3 2023-24	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
6	f) develop a better understanding of the additional business and people costs of the continued use of unmodernised digital services, focusing initially on its most used digital services, to help inform investment priorities. Ref Page 11, paragraph 24, point f · Implemented Q1 2026-27	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs	Accepted	Not started ✓ NAO