It looks like the new IT system which will run the Scottish Government's support scheme for agriculture will cost taxpayers £24m.

ScotGov's Agricultural Department have agreed a contract worth £24m with the Cheshire-based IT company, Informed Solutions. The company is tasked with assisting with the initial digital service needed to implement the Scottish Government’s Vision for Scottish Agriculture and the associated National Test Programme.

Informed Solutions were the success bidders selected from eight other companies, with the decision based 80% of the quality of the work and only 20% on the quoted cost in the weighting process.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Digital and Information Services Division (DISD) within the Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate delivers a broad set of services. Core within these are the systems that enable Rural Payments and Services to be provided by the Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID), along with its delivery partners.

"DISD has existing contracts in place with a small number of other suppliers with the primary purpose of ensuring that the current systems that are critical to rural support and payments are reliable and secure.

“While many systems were replaced, or modernised with the implementation of the CAP 2015 Revision, some that predate that have been retained and need to be retired or developed afresh.

"The contract with Informed Solutions has been added to supplement our existing contracts for that purpose, but also to be an enabling part of the Agriculture Reform Programme.

“The contract with Informed Solutions provides flexibility for DISD to add capacity and capability to develop completely new features as and when they are identified, and to work with existing suppliers to integrate new features with existing and modernised ones.

“This contract was awarded to following a competitive tender via the Digital Services Dynamic Purchasing System.”