New DEFRA Computer System

In an announcement likely to send a chill through the English farming industry, DEFRA has decided it is going to introduce a new computer payments system.  Farming Minister, David Heath, has stated that the new integrated online payment system will be ready for the 2015 scheme year.  It will make the payments for all the CAP schemes in England.  Currently DEFRA, RPA, Natural England and the Forestry Commission payout 40 different schemes between them each on different computer systems.  Mr Heath has said the new system will reduce the running costs, improve farm inspections and makingit easier to adapt to changes in the future.  This obviously sounds like a good idea, but the history of government IT projects, and especially the past performance of the RPA in this area, is not encouraging for a smooth deployment.