Letter to the Committee from HM Customs
and Excise
I am due to give evidence to the Committee on
15 December on the NAO's Report, "Transforming HM Customs
and Excise through Electronic Service Delivery". You
might find it helpful if I update you on two developments since
the NAO published their Report.
First, we have decided to put back the launch
of our new internet site and e-VAT pilot from the end of November
to early in the New Year. Our testing procedures identified technical
difficulties with the internet site. This largely concerns software
for content management and authentication. We had built some slack
into the timetable and we have decided to take advantage of this
to ensure that we get the product right for the launch of the
pilot. Our aim is still to target the pilot as originally envisaged,
ie to selected business representatives. This decision will have
no impact on the overall cost or benefits of the programme. We
are simply taking a few more weeks to address technical problems
identified by our testing procedures. I will of course provide
more details during the hearing.
Second, you may have been expecting an update
on the Revenue Departments Review. The Review is making good progress
but there is more work to be done and we now expect it to report
early in the New Year.
Mr Mike Eland
Acting Chairman
11 December 2003
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