A mission-critical IT project to replace hard copy
intelligence on threats to UK security with a secure network that
links government offices in the UK and overseas is due for
completion in 2009 - five years later than originally
planned.
The web-based "Scope" system is designed to link the main
producers and consumers of government intelligence: central
departments, agencies and the intelligence services.
It was scheduled to be in place by 2004. But Computer Weekly has
learned that the project, which is managed by the Cabinet Office
and is funded in part by MI5, MI6 and GCHQ, is due to be phased in
over the next two years.
Parliament's
Intelligence and
Security Committee has said that the Scope project would mark
the beginning of the end of hard copy intelligence
distribution.
Phase one of the programme began late last year, and a Cabinet
Office spokeswoman said that users were "now successfully
exploiting this capability". But the roll out of applications for
the critical phase two of the programme, which were due to connect
counter-terrorism specialists in 10 agencies and departments,
including the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre at MI5's
headquarters, are not due to start until next year.
Security difficulties aside, the project's leaders have problems
similar to those on other major government IT projects, such as the
NHS's £12.4bn National Programme for IT and the Home Office's
C-Nomis project to provide information on offenders.
They have learned that it is important to win the support of the
system's end-users early on, that those implementing it must own
the programme completely, and that accountability for delivery must
be clear. They have also found that there must be enough staff and
money for both project management and business change.
In
its
2005-06 annual report, the Intelligence and Security Committee
expressed concern that there was a "lack of preparedness of
partners to reap the benefits of the new system". It urged the
agencies involved in the scheme to consider carefully the "cultural
changes surrounding the programme's implementation".
Officials running the project have told MPs that delays have
resulted in a "much fuller and more detailed understanding of what
was required to deliver benefits to the programme partners and
identified the need for further funding".
The government said the original plans for Scope were less
ambitious than current ones. "In the government's view, it is
important to devote the necessary time to getting it right," it
said.
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