HMPO’s ultimate plan is for its digital system to be able to process paper applications, by scanning these onto the system. While it wants to reduce the amount of paper-based applications, it told us that it did not plan to completely remove the option for customers to apply on paper, as some customers may not be able to apply digitally.41 However, we challenged HMPO and the Department on the risk that its data storage contract for its paper-based system is due to expire in 2024, prior to the...

HMPO’s ultimate plan is for its digital system to be able to process paper applications, by scanning these onto the system. While it wants to reduce the amount of paper-based applications, it told us that it did not plan to completely remove the option for customers to apply on paper, as some customers may not be able to apply digitally.41 However, we challenged HMPO and the Department on the risk that its data storage contract for its paper-based system is due to expire in 2024, prior to the 2025 likely completion of its digital transformation programme. We asked the Department how it could be confident that 36 Qq 111–114 37 C&AG’s Report pa Type: conclusion | Number: 25 | Response status: not_addressed