THE Home Office is continuing with a miserable record of exorbitantly expensive digital programmes that fail to deliver for the taxpayer or for border security, according to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) .

In a report released today, the failings are due to a “lack of effective leadership, management and oversight”.

Delays to the Digital Services at the Border (DSAB) programme have cost the taxpayer £173 million so far. The Border Crossing part of the programme is being used by only 300 border staff, against the 7000 supposed to be using the system by June. Previous attempts to roll out the Border Crossing experienced technical difficulties.

The Home Office is planning for more than 140 million passengers a year to pass through its new DSAB systems but it still has “no proof that systems can cope with passenger volumes that existed prior to Covid-19, let alone the 6% annual growth in the volume of passengers” it predicts.

SNP home affairs spokesperson Stuart McDonald said: “The gross incompetence of the Home Office with regards to immigration and border technology continues to appal. Its record on delivering technology programmes has been shameful, and this latest attempt is no different.”

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The Home Office has previously experienced issues on delivering technology programmes. Delays to the Emergency Services Network, also a recurring subject of PAC inquiry, are costing taxpayers £650m a year, and the programme is currently running six years late.

PAC says the Home Office has failed to “identify, acknowledge and be transparent about problems” in delivering tech programmes that are “crucial to national security objectives” of protecting the public from terrorism, crime, illegal immigration and trafficking – and also vital for facilitating the legitimate movement of people across the border.

The original objective of improved information at the border has now been delayed by a further three years, with little demonstrable lesson learning.

Chair of the committee Meg Hillier MP said: “Immigration and border security are among the biggest political issues of our time. It is incredible that the Home Office can have failed so badly, for so long, to deliver technology that is crucial to our national security objectives.

“The Home Office has struggled to get to grips with the technical challenges, resetting the programme and changing the leadership repeatedly. And it is the taxpayer hit by both the financial cost and the risks to our security.”

McDonald added: “It is extremely worrying that the Home Office has repeatedly failed to deliver technology that is integral to border security. We all pay a price in terms of financial cost and security.

“Delays to the Emergency Services Network, which PAC are also currently investigating, has cost the taxpayer £650m a year – despite currently running six years behind schedule. This cannot continue. The SNP is now demanding answers and, more importantly, action from the Home Office.

“The Home Secretary must review the concerns raised as a matter of urgency and explain how this will be put right.”