NPA concerned about Defra’s reliance on outdated IT systems
17th May 2023
Following a recent report calling Defra’s IT systems ‘outdated’ and ‘difficult to use’, the National Pig Association (NPA) has urged the government body to address the shortfalls identified in its systems to ensure quick and effective response to disease outbreaks.
The report, published by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on 11th May, pointed out the fact that Defra’s IT systems still involve paper forms, which are more inefficient and expensive than digital systems, despite the Department handling around 14 million transactions a year.
Although Defra released a digital and technology transformation plan in 2022, the report said the Department does not yet have a proactive strategy for transforming its digital services or reducing reliance on paper forms.
It also highlighted the need for the Defra to recruit digital, data and technology staff in place of contractors, which can cost up to twice as much.
PAC deputy chair, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, was quoted by the NPA as saying: “Defra’s IT systems are so outmoded and disconnected – where they exist at all, instead of paper forms – that in some cases the professionals who keep our food, water and air safe have been forced to buy obsolete equipment just to fill in the forms to fulfil their regulatory responsibilities.
“We are facing rapidly spreading animal diseases, maybe the next pandemic, with systems that may rely on moving paper forms around. This cannot continue.”
In light of the PAC’s findings, the NPA has urged Defra to address the shortfalls of their IT systems to enable robust control and eradication of notifiable disease outbreaks in the UK and the continuation of essential surveillance work.
“The Avian Influenza outbreaks over the last few years have put Defra and APHA under continued strain, and we do question their ability to respond to more than one notifiable disease outbreak at a time given their limited resource – a concern that we as NPA have raised on numerous occasions,” said the association’s chief policy adviser Rebecca Veale.
“Our key concern is the risk that African swine fever poses to the British herd given the challenge the disease presents in mainland Europe.
Responding to concerns, a Defra spokesperson told NPA the Department is committed to improving the quality and availability of its digital services.
“We have made significant progress on enhancing and improving the resilience of our current technology and digital services through an effective and wide-ranging investment plan.
“We have already delivered new and improved services to improve flood warnings, farming and countryside schemes and food imports and exports, developed with the input of end-users and customers.
